Very few short films offer the knockout punch that Champ delivers in its final scenes, or the powerful discussions on 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 the idea of 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 conversations progress, 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. While his dad feels the need to root out his mum’s influence, an influence he believes to be unrealistic and overly aspirational.
The result is a delicate and assured discussion on 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 the relationship of a father and son in the hours leading up to a fateful and irreversible decision. Very few short films offer the knockout punch that Champ delivers in its final scenes, or the powerful discussions on masculinity, parenthood, and influence that surround the brief road trip we embark on.
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