Do appreciate silents and also old short films. Some of the best came from DW Griffith in the 1910s. He was not one of my favourite directors, but his short and feature films are really well worth seeing (the best musts) and he was an interesting director with revolutionary visual techniques. Another reason for seeing 'So Near Yet So Far' is also young Mary Pickford (a Griffith regular and for good reason), near the end of her biograph career.
'So Near Yet So Far' is not one of Griffith's best, both when it comes to his short films and his overall filmpgraphy, or a ground-breaking work of his. It is though on its own immensely charming and hard to resist. 'So Near Yet So Far' is also vintage Pickford, if you are somebody who likes Pickford (to me she did a lot of great work) you will be in heaven, and it is very recognisable as a Griffith film thematically and in content (not to mention technically).
Admittedly, the story is very simple, very slight and not really all that special. Griffith did similar stories in his short films and this is not much different from those.
However, a lot is great. It's very lovingly shot and doesn't look primitive, the outdoor scenery is some of the most beautiful of all of Griffith's short films perhaps. Griffith directs expertly and as said his style is recognisable visually and thematically.
None of the 17 minute length feels dull and throughout it was hard for me not to feel charmed and touched. It's lovely to watch and really cheers you up when needed, something that has been necessary frequently with me being myself autistic, disabled and with severe anxiety. 'So Near Yet So Far's' 17 minutes made me forget all of that by its immense charm.
The acting is very good, with top honours going to Pickford. Who is endearing and epitomises charm, playing a character that is so easy to empathise with.
Overall, lovely. 8/10.