This is another review from the HollyShorts Film Festival (13-23 Aug).
Echoes (Alex Lanipekun, 2026)
An intriguing story about two former classmates, Andre, a settled, married black man with a good career, and Robert, a homeless (“we say unhoused now”) white man who claims to have found God.
As Echoes bounces between the present and the past, showing the young Andre and Robert at school and as they are now, we see what happened to set them on their current paths.
Writer and director Alex Lanipekun keeps well away from sensationalism in this story, anchored by a largely dialogue-free performance from Emmett J Scanlan as the boys’ teacher.
Lee Gregory is particular effective as Robert, a man who loves to look at the stars while fighting against the feelings that caused his Christian parents to throw him out on the street.
As Andre, Ashley Walters captures the essence of a man whose selective memory finds a way to dig into his soul and break his heart. His wife Eva is played with great sensitivity by Nathalie Emmanuel, who lovingly draws out the truth of those muddled memories.
There’s a lot going on in Echoes in such a short running time, but it all comes down to perception, experience, and manipulation. It clearly shows the impact of a lack of trust and accountability on those exploited as children.
I should also mention the performances coaxed out of Kenyah Sandy and George Harrison as the young Andre and Robert, who are assured, convincing and believable in difficult roles.
Echoes is an accomplished film, Lanipekun’s third as director. It brings a lot of ideas to the table without being too literal.
Echoes is part of this month’s HollyShorts Film Festival.