High Five: The Essence of Home

I’m a sucker for a black and white documentary, of course, and so straight away this piece stood out to me. It’s a spot I could listen to without looking at, and still love it. There’s something so effortless about the way children tell stories, and hearing them talk about New York as their home was beautiful.

Unfortunately, we find people are tuning out or desensitising to many crucial issues. This commercial reimagined this scenario, for almost a second appearing comical before swiftly addressing a painful reality. The commercial didn’t rely on a child to act out these painful realities, but instead was smart in its creative approach. This commercial took us into the four walls of many homes we don’t see.

This campaign, without a doubt, brought a tear to my eye. From sharing the last photos of people who took their own lives on billboards around the UK, to creating a beautifully sensitive commercial. A reminder that home is in the people we love around us and a reminder of the worth and value they hold.

An integral piece of filmmaking that shows these women and girls in a light of honour. Another reminder that home is - and should be - community, safety and freedom of choice. 

This is one of my favourite short films (it was inevitable I’d get some on this list). Rooted in a quote from Nelson Mandela and the track ‘Capture Land’ by Chronixx, the film poetically looks at the deeper search for home.