This is the second of several film short reviews from this year’s HollyShorts Film Festival (13-23 Aug).
Still Life (Sophie King, 2026)
Sophie King’s film Still Life about expectant parents and the reality of stillbirth – inspired by the real-life experience of writer/producer Kate Radcliffe.
With quiet dignity and well-calculated humour, Still Life offers the reality of the world carrying on with no pause when yours has come to a literal dead stop.
Ophelia Lovibond plays Jess, the mother who has faced the worst possible outcome of a first pregnancy. Jacob Anderson is her partner, Max, with Phoebe Pryce as a fussy, well-meaning friend.
The yoga class in which Jess is encouraged to rest in “child’s pose” and a simple supermarket display of Mother’s Day cards all build up to emphasise and crush her feelings of loss.
There is love in her life, with a clear avenue of support between her and Max, and you don’t have to have direct experience of stillbirth to find Still Life moving, crushing, and devastating.
Just one misplaced word or interaction, however innocently meant, can be catastrophic, and when Jess eventually reaches the point where grief truly winds its arms around her, Lovibond makes it 100% real.
Radcliffe’s screenplay is caring, cautious and dignified while pulling back from any hint of mawkish sentimentality. The locations are all very real and grounded – hospital, home, supermarket.
The death of a child is presented with dignity and thoughtfulness. It may only affect 1% of global pregnancies but the physical and emotional cost is significant. Still Life honours those babies lost at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Still Life is part of this month’s HollyShorts Film Festival.