Mikes Film Talk

The 2024 Dutch Independent short film Helemaal het Einde, or The Complete End, is about love. It is also about fighting for what we want and, just perhaps, about how not to act during an apparent apocalypse.

Writers and actors Natasja Schaafsma, Isis Caljé, Joyce Tevreden give us an almost claustrophobic yet jam packed look at eight minutes of injury, pain, love and death. Not bad for a project dictated by the rule of a 48 hour turnaround. This film was made in 48 hours, from script to edit, as part of the 48h film project Groningen. *From IMDb trivia.*

Director Milan Swagers, who edits the film as well, puts the whole thing together admirably. Swagers also worked as a fight coordinator on Helemaal het Einde and did the VFX. A quick shout out for those wounds that the performers were stitching up; excellent work for a 48 hour production.

Cinematographer Lionel Kuiken made the most of the intimate, almost claustrophobic set. He also apparently took advantage of the setting and its natural lighting.

The story

Lieke Van Dam is taking shelter to stitch up some of her wounds. She spies two other survivors heading to safety. She goes to help and it is love at first sight for her.

Her euphoric state may not last for long, however as three is definitely a crowd in this shelter.

Helemaal het Einde works

While the filmmakers have not included the kitchen sink, they have managed to put a lot in this just over eight minute short. Despite its brevity, everything comes together well.

The action is done well and the fighting is choreographed brilliantly. The three actors work well together and manage to convincingly mesh their characters together. We get quite a cohesive tale with no backstory but this works.

There will be those who will not enjoy the film, but not because of its content. Rather the subtitles alone may turn viewers off before they even begin to watch the film.

The verdict

I give Helemaal het Einde a solid 5 out of 5 stars. They met the 48 hour challenge and beat it. The film is available to view via YouTube. Head over and see if this tale of drama hits the right spot.

Enjoy.