Few short films deliver the knockout punch Champ delivers in its final scenes, or the powerful discussions of masculinity, parenthood, and influence that surround the brief road trip we embark on. Learn more about Champ by visiting the Official Website.
Family separation is never easy, and more often than not, children find themselves torn in half as they attempt to please two parents who no longer communicate. This is the situation fourteen-year-old Jake (Kingston Vernes) finds himself in as he spends time with his dad (Drew Powell). From the outset, Jake is apprehensive and uncertain as he greets his dad, who clearly believes Jake is old enough to become the man he thinks he should be. But for Jake, his dad’s ideas of masculinity are opposed to his mum’s and her new partner’s beliefs.
Jake’s mum wants him to study hard at school and attend college, while his dad believes he should bulk up, fight, and forget about learning. However, as the two embark on a mysterious road trip to his dad’s chosen destination, Jake ultimately has to decide whether to follow his father’s wishes or walk away.
Ben Tricklebank and James Gould-Bourn’s nuanced screenplay subverts audience expectations while exploring the complex love of a father who sees his son as a mirror image of himself. As the conversation progresses, it becomes clear that Jake doubts his dad’s intentions and beliefs, but he doesn’t want to disappoint the man he still looks up to, despite his misguided love. His dad feels the need to root out his mum’s influence, which he believes is unrealistic and overly aspirational.
The result is a delicate, assured discussion of parental influence, separation, and the minefield many children face when they think they need to pick a side. Here, Powell and Vernes’ performances are compelling as they explore a father-son relationship in the hours leading up to a fateful, irreversible decision. Very few short films deliver the knockout punch Champ delivers in its final scenes, or the powerful discussions of masculinity, parenthood, and influence that surround the brief road trip we embark on.
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