“Echoes Under Skin,” directed by John C. Christian and Gabriella Katsouropoulou

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San Diego Short Film Festival

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Drama

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TRT 12:00​

 

A man (Marcio Rosario) carries on a strained and taut conversation with a child (Gabriel Katsouropoulou) as the man remembers some difficult and complicated times in his past.

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I can’t reveal too much more about what’s really going on, but I will make a recommendation. This is an extremely uncomfortable watch for the first 4 to 5 minutes (and honestly, it’s not a walk in the park after that mark, either), but I assure you that your initial understanding of what’s going on is not correct. Stick with this and you will be treated to both a fascinating twist and a powerful statement against domestic violence.

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Visually, “Echoes Under Skin” is as complex as its underlying subject matter, with a striking and consistent color palate. Rosario’s character is always dressed in something blue; red conveys either a threat or reality of violence; darkness simultaneously paints the scene and the main character’s soul. None of this intentionality is distracting from the plot, which flows along as expected once that initial portion is over.

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Rosario is excellent, and you might remember him from 2023’s fascinating short “Bergamota.” He has a talent for convincingly conveying danger and pain with expressions and body language, and that talent serves both of these films well. Katsouropoulou is also quite good as Rosario’s main foil, sharing some of Rosario’s intensity in a way that ends up more impressive after the reveal.

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The film ends on almost a “public service announcement” vibe, but the accompanying text is compelling and the transition – while slightly abrupt – feels right when you look at “Echoes Under Skin” in its entirely. And you should.