User Reviews

The story of an alcohol heist in a retirement home seems like a good combination of genres, but this short film is more focused on mortality, cherishing life and relationships than the actual 'heist'. The film looks great, Capture manage to make a dreary retirement home very visually pleasing. A very shallow focus is used, so the background Christmas lights flare up to create great looking, crisp visuals.

For a 15 minute film its ending does pack a powerful emotional punch, which is only achieved through the effective build up of the main character Albie. To feel such emotion for characters you've only known for a few minutes is quite an achievement. There is also a great continuous ending shot.

The sense of 'action' needed to be stronger during the actual heist and it could have been given more time, however this is really only one element of the story. As a whole it all fits together as a perfectly short, beautifully told story.

It is not often that you come across a film that focuses solely upon the Elderly in a thought-provoking and amusing way, yet Gin & Dry has done this to perfection. Not only does it put a twist on the stereotypes we hold against old age, but it also leaves its audience with an underlying heart-rending message.

Albie is the perfect protagonist. He is presented as the wise and loving old man who knows he's lived his life to the full, which immediately gives the audience a reason to trust him. This is further reinforced by his emotional speech, which becomes the main turning point, providing the audience with a realisation that time does not last forever.

There was not one minute put to waste in this beautifully humorous short film. Every shot, character, piece of dialogue or music reflected the story that was being told. Scenes such as the lead-up to the heist gave a real sense of the idea that you will always remain young at heart, as the residents fight to be the first to reach the door. Yet these very scenes make the audience realise that the people who once fought for our freedom are the ones we treat with very little respect, as is presented in the character of Adam.

Adam's character becomes the only character the audience can relate to; the young man who believes he's got a hard life, because the residence won't co-operate with him. That being said Albie's speech to Adam is a direct message to youth, saying that as a generation we have lived life without the worries they overcame for us.

All in all, Gin & Dry, with its striking cinematography and lasting message, is most definitely worth a watch.

Coming in at one second below 15 minutes exactly, Gin & Dry uses the medium of the short film very well. It does something not done often enough in modern storytelling, it tells a humble little story with a lot of sincerity, thoughtfulness and a sense of fun, turning what could've easily been a fluffy "switch off" comedy into something with some real and memorable weight.

Main character Albie enjoys spending his time at the Twin Willows retirement home with his wife and a good drink. That's how most of the residents seem to add a bit of spice to their otherwise dreary lives. But on Christmas Eve the fun's spoilt; when the well meaning but patronising young bloke who works there tells them not only that he's withholding the booze this year but that they're better off without it, trouble brews.

The strength of the narrative comes out of its respect for its characters. It's so simple to make comedy characters out of the elderly sometimes, and it's always a bit cringey to see done, but the humour here seems to come from our understanding of their desperation for their beloved drink. We agree, from the looks of the place and its staff, that Twin Willows is not a place we'd want to spend any length of time let alone our twilight years. It's sadness and frustration that makes the comedy and, basically, you want them to have their booze back.

The production values really work to support the narrative whilst never trying to take centre stage. The colour scheme of the film looks suitably boozy brown and crisp, getting across the dullness of the home in the process. Direction and cinematography's well thought out, every shot hits the mark tells a lot of the story visually, the final shot being a real treat. All the old folks are acted really quite well and Albie in particular is a memorable performance.

It's one of those rare stories that's so hard to fault because it all seems to come from a warm place and achieves what it sets out to do, with respect for its characters and its audience, never unnecessarily overstepping any lines. There may be missed opportunities? Maybe some more emphasis on the booze heist element? But then its surprisingly brave in how much this comedic premise becomes a backdrop to the meat of the character stuff. In my opinion it tells a more honest and likable story in 15 minutes than a lot of 2+ hour mammoth features so it's surely worth anyone's time.

'Gin and Dry' captures today's loutish generation who'll do anything for a drop of alcohol. Intimidation, violence, hostage taking, nothing is too much for these individuals and their lust for a strong drink. Sometimes they're even willing to put their lives and Zimmer frames on the line for it.

In reality 'Gin and Dry' makes use of elderly actors for the cast and a care home as the setting, to tell a very honest story. As with any good film the audience are made to think and one of the pleasures of such a short piece is that it doesn't feel at all didactic. The brevity means that we are provoked and then just as quickly left alone to debate and ponder the issues we feel are most important.

As the central character Albie makes clear, these characters aren't going to be around for too much longer and although many films may deal with life and death, the setting of 'Gin and Dry' provides death with an immediacy that heightens the effect of the story. Alongside debating the roles of alcohol, mortality, love and everything in between, you question why older people are so rarely given the lead roles.

Capture avoid using the typical higher angle shots that often depict older characters as small and fragile. The particularly shallow focus used also adds a hint of the cinematic and the Christmas lights provide warmth to contrast with the honesty of the content. As the camera slowly focuses in on the record Albie has chosen, undulating as it plays, we are led into the wonderfully inspired final shot of the film. The style of the ending perfectly completes a film that is quite simply, a good story told well.

Gin & Dry evoked powerful thought and emotion, feeling like a real feat within fifteen minutes. Themes of ageing, the fragility that comes as a result, the often difficult transition between self reliance and dependence, are all touched on with sensitivity and a twist of comedy. What could have easily been portrayed as a dreary setting in an old people's home was shot beautifully, clever use of contrast and colours, an intricate play of camera focus and perfectly fitting music.

I thought the central character of Albie was brilliantly cast; you warm to him from the first scene. As the plot unfolds he holds key importance in the 'heist', his speech-like dialogue to the head carer resonates to the audience and the relationship he has with his long term partner definitely unfolds with grace. The close up head shots of both Albie and his wife make you very much focus on expression, and the emotive words that the characters are speaking.

The heist sequence did seem some-part rushed, but I felt it was a good energetic peak mid- film, that again brought the comedic value of the situation to a head.

Overall I thought this was a lovely and powerful short, that poses the question of whether anyone can really decide what is 'right' or 'wrong' at the later stage of one's life, the pain brought and reality of getting old, whilst being aesthetically pleasing to the eye and using comedy cleverly to convey the story.

Gin and Dry is a sophisticatedly delivered short film that contains a well-balanced and layered narrative. The film depicts an accurate and relatable representation of an ageing generation with nothing to lose. The film bares all the hallmarks of a classic comedic caper, whilst simultaneously can be read to ask fairly profound questions including society's treatment of the elderly and, ultimately, death and its handling. The film superbly negotiates the fine line between bitter and sweet, and with a running time of just over 15 minutes the film packs quite an emotional punch.

Set in the sparsely festive-decorated residential home of Twin Willows, the film centres on the likeable and unassuming Albie (David de Keyser) alongside an ensemble of colourful pensioners who carry out an audacious heist for the rationed Christmas alcohol. The film undoubtedly nods back, if not only shares similarities, to one of the great Ealing comedies, Alexander Mackendrick's 1949 film Whisky Galore!. Mackendrick's film follows a similarly comedic caper around the shortage, discovery and retention of alcohol; in their youth, the residents of the Twin Willows retirement home could have fitted in nicely with rebellious characters of Whisky Galore!.

David de Keyser's performance of Albie is a real standout and is critical in providing not only a straight face for the comic relief to bounce off but also to offer thoughtful and heartfelt moments. Albie comes across as maintaining a 'tortoise and the hare' approach to life. This is highlighted in the brilliantly shot, with fast paced close-ups of a speeding wheelchair, 'hallway chase' scene in which slow and steady, very much so, won the race. Indeed, from the outset the film's stylistic and technical elements can be admired, as it begins as it means to go on with a delightful extreme close-up shot of ice clinking and fizzing in a glass. As the film progresses so too does the variety of shots and stylistic choices for comedic, ambiguous and sentimental effect. The use of crash zooms during the discovery of board games instead of alcohol works well in a comedic sense as well as to keep the tempo of film going. Throughout the film the use of focus, and lack of, is used astutely, particularly for when Albie interacts with his wife Dee (June Watson). The camera would often lose Dee in a blurred out focus, brilliantly laying the breadcrumbs for the, certainly heart breaking, final scene. At this point, a special mention has to be made to the use of Billie Holiday's I'll Be Seeing You throughout the film, playing a very reflective role of the crux of the film; not least in the final scene where the piece of music becomes empty, hollow and echoing, making for moving and poignant viewing.

Thematically, Gin and Dry raises the question of how society treats the elderly. A regular criticism is the restrictive treatment of the elderly, limiting their choices, often undermining their ability and impeding on their freedom; Albie even makes a point of the fact that many of his generation, including himself, fought for our liberty in the Second World War. The narrative unfolds to oppose such restrictions and make the audience consider how we treat an older generation; to who we owe so much. A further point can be raised of the purpose the alcohol serves. It is apparent in Albie's case it is used as a form of medication to deal with a recent agonising loss, a common theme and occurrence during the twilight years, in which memories are re-lived and profound, difficult and often painful questions must be confronted.

Gin and Dry negotiates the pitfalls of a solitary location effortlessly, implementing a dynamic, fresh and compelling style onto the film. The film provides great moments of humour that make for entertaining and easy watching, whilst simultaneously delivering engaging and thought provoking issues in a truly well-rounded short film.

Films about pensioners or retirement homes can often seem slightly monotonous however, the concept of a booze heist in an old people's home is actually rather entertaining and emotionally charged. The film explores various aspects of the pensioners lives with alcohol playing an important role in determining the proceedings; something which the Capture team have played upon very effectively as they turn a dull retirement home into an interesting story of alcohol, addictions and loving memories.

The first thing we notice when watching the film is that there is an incredible attention to detail, everything is very precisely done and well thought out; the opening credits and title animations are very well executed and similarly appropriate for the genre of film which they introduce. Gin and Dry is very cleverly put together and plays upon various aspects of film which results in fairly entertaining viewing all round however, it can get slightly confusing at times due to so much being fitted into a short space of time.

I found the beginning of the film slightly dull and so it wasn't immediately very appealing to me, I also struggled to comprehend what some of the characters were saying early on which added to my slight annoyance, but as the film progressed I became more interested and once the film was under way I began to enjoy it. The biggest qualm I had is that I felt Gin and Dry is slightly undecided on what audience it is aiming for since I couldn't entirely work it out and therefore I found it slightly difficult to know what to feel.

Since the film is only fifteen minutes long our knowledge of some characters is rather undeveloped however by use of camera angles we get to see various reactions from them at different moments throughout the film. Visual effects are an important aspect to Gin and Dry, the most notable being the lighting; by using low lighting but maintaining the sharpness of the images the team have managed to create a timely yet also slightly tense atmosphere – perfect for the situation which arises. The soundtrack is also something that must not go unnoticed as it helps to create tension and also carries the film forward although at times it can slightly distract the viewer. A culmination of theses effects and a clever panning shot allow for a very emotional and effective final scene.

A fairly simple plot with excellent visual, audio and camera effects combined with an effective cast mean that once you get into it, Gin and Dry is not only interesting but also quite an entertaining film.

This short film, at first, gives the impression of a light-hearted take on a prison break movie. The ditsy, disconnected residents of the nursing home seem almost comedic as we see them going about their lives. Their outrage at the news that they won't be imbibing as much as usual this Christmas gives way to a more meaningful reflection on their lives as the film progresses.

In their world of board games and white noise, having at Christmas is one the only things they look forward to. Shot with shallow depth of field, we get the impression that the residents don't often get to see much further than the confines of the home.

The film cleverly references the war and compares it to the rationing that has been imposed on them again. It provokes thought about the trials that their generation had been through when compared to the traumatised Adam, the nursing home employee.

It is admirable to see a film centred around the older generation, as elderly characters are often denied the privilege of being given any depth or opportunity for empathy. Gin & Dry is a sweet, thought- provoking story, with more to it than you would think at the outset.

For a 15 minute production, I feel I shouldn't have so much to say; the writing of this piece tries ever so desperatley to feign reality in its dialogue, however all it manages to achieve is something that is clearly scripted and heightened. This would have been fine had the production decided to stay with one genre - in the opening minutes it had laid itself out as a story surrounding the relationships between people and the ending of life, yet as the minutes dregged on, suddenly slapstick humour was at the forefront and I thought "ah well if it's supposed to be a foolish comedy then the writing makes sense." Once again it presents as something it is not. Not 5 minutes later from the absurdity of the heist we are met with what I imagine is supposed to be profound dialogue between the old and new generations and is instead idle chatter that had no relevance to the characters within the story.

This premise has potential, however by attempting to squash all paths of potential into one production, it subtracts from the impact of the piece. The ending was anti-climactic. I felt no attachment to the main character or his wife as we see so little of her, and what we do see of him is so all over the place - all in all, the ending felt tacked on simply for the sake of having it and / or the script was written from the back forward which could also help with explaining why the narrative and genre constantly jump.

Before I wrap up, I shall bring merit to the cinamotogarphy; the camera work, the mis en scene and finally the atmosphere of a care home were achieved wonderfully and I enjoyed the production even if it was purely from a technical standpoint.

Overall however, I would only reccomend this as something incredibly niche watchers, or school children who need an assignment for their film class should watch. There is much to pick apart and much to merit, but as a whole the production was, as its characters, stagnant and grasping for what little enjoyment it could.

Gin and Dry is a heart-warming tale that follows the residents of an old age pensioner care home in their quest to 'get the booze back'.

Managing to balance comedy and drama so poignantly and effortlessly within such a short running time works with Gin and Dry as the narrative manages to weave in and out of light-hearted fun and deeper meaningful points.

There is more than meets the eye with Gin and Dry as the story manages to touch on heartfelt issues in a way that enlightens the viewer without becoming too serious by using the humour of the characters to ensure it is fun to watch.

The cinematography ensures each shot is beautifully focused and framed to perfection which all works to create a warm tone that invites you further into the story; as does the music.

Gin and Dry is a delight to watch, heart-warming and definitely worth viewing.

It is Christmas time, and the elderly inhabitants of a residential home are tired of being bossed around. Determined to take matters into their own hands, they stage a midnight attack on their unsuspecting carer, and break into the stores to steal their forbidden booze. But are these really the spirits they need this Christmas?

This is a beautifully filmed short by film and animation company Capture. A shallow depth of field is employed to give warmth to this tale of ageism, passion and acceptance. Creative lighting and the twinkling of Christmas lights help create a festive mis-en-scene and set the tone of the film, while a nostalgic soundtrack evokes to the glory days of the generation who feel forgotten.

The unpredictable storyline keeps us on our toes right up until the final twist, but I would have like to have more made of the heist to create a give a greater sense of climax. Ultimately, the film teaches us to make the most of our lives and cherish each moment, before time eventually catches up with us

Gin & Dry perfectly demonstrates quite how much can be done in short-film format. What a brilliant gem of a film. While it is, on the face of it, a simple heist story set in an old people's home, it touches on themes of age, loss, companionship, and as a result triggers all kinds of emotions throughout.

The photography is incredibly elegant and the cinematic shots are enhanced with a stunning colour grade. All in all this film makes for a very satisfying visual experience. The visuals are further matched by a quality score and a soundscape that perfectly captures the old people's home. The soundscape is truly evocative, especially in moments when Albi pours himself a Gin & Dry.

The attention to detail is evident and this extends to the beautifully designed title cards which add a further level of class to the film.

Some of the performances are more effective than others, but the title role of Albi played by David de Keyser is perfectly pitched and truly moving.

The script is powerful and in less skilled hands some of the monologue may not have been so effective. But here it is beautifully pitched without being overly melodramatic or maudlin. A truly delicate balance is struck throughout.

This is definitely one to watch. I can't recommend it highly enough as a fantastic example of the short-film format.

Imagine spending Christmas eve in a care home with a bunch of old, bored and alcohol-craving folks who devise a plan to steal booze and indulge in the joys of being wasted . Gin and Dry is a perfect example of a bittersweet story, which carries itself light-heartedly, while an underlying message waits patiently to unfold. What I thought was fascinating about Gin and Dry was the fusion of comedy and drama, which is intrinsic to the story. Very few films depict old people as protagonists. What makes Gin and Dry genuine is the way it portrays the residents of a care home - almost like children. This not only helps the audience relate to the characters but also subverts any preconceptions the viewer might have. Albie, the protagonist, seems like the grandfather everyone would like to have. He is a gentle, stoic and wise guy, who seems to posses high moral values and always takes responsibility for his actions. We see him in the beginning of the film as he pours some gin for him and his wife Dee. Their dialogue is nostalgic as they both remember their shared memories from the past. Albie stands out from the other, more child-like characters and consequently becomes the driving force of the story. The production design in this film is incredible. While the film does not represent a care home realistically (the ones I've seen are much grittier); the various props such as Christmas lights, little ornaments and bottles of alcohol transform an otherwise dull environment into a colourful and interesting world. It seems like the shots were cleverly constructed beforehand, since each frame is visually pleasing with interesting elements in the background. In my opinion, Gin and Dry offers an interesting take on care homes and the ways their residents behave. What initially seems like an adventurous journey of mischief eventually turns into a reminder that sparks of life are present even in the dustiest and most forgotten places.

Gin and Dry is a heart warming short, a successful combination of comedy, drama and tragedy set against what could be a rather depressing backdrop, a retirement home. The film presents a burst of life; a group of child like pensioners staging a heist to save Christmas, or at least to make sure the holiday is a boozy occasion. This short being only 15 minutes results in a series of concise shots and smart story telling. Opening with a sequence of beautifully shot close ups, the film maintains a warm tone, the pink and brown hues of Twin Willows, the soft lighting of Albie's room and out of focus Christmas lights. The simple soundtrack of Billie Holiday's I'll Be Seeing You is perfectly suited. David de Keyser's performance as our protagonist Albie is outstanding. Although we are only given a brief insight into his life, the audience is drawn in to really care for him. Albie's war references and musing on life drawing to a close, bring a melancholy air to Gin and Dry, making it much more than a short about an elderly bunch stealing alcohol. Although the heist is not overly developed, development of this scene would likely have brought more comic value to the film, this short's progression into a sentimental piece feels quite natural. Steering clear of cheap laughs but providing comic relief Gin and Dry is an extremely moving piece, a poignant look at the last years of life. Dealing with memory and the emotions of a group who are often forgotten about, Gin and Dry should not be dismissed as just a sugary Christmas film, and is most certainly worth watching.