"22 Years" - Short on Time, Long on Heart"

In just 16 minutes, the short film “22 Years” explores the aftermath of a question that haunts millions of adult children of divorce - “Why did Dad leave?”

Lead actress and producer Dawn Noel, delivers an emotionally convincing performance as Avi Moreno, a young waitress awaiting acceptance to law school, while grappling with her father’s sudden re-entry into her life after a 22 year absence. She still wears a chain he gave to her as a child shortly before being kicked out by her mother, who was tired of his reckless alcoholic behavior.

Avi navigates her turbulent state of mind by seeking the help of a psychiatrist (Kearran Giovanni, Major Crimes) and turning to her diverse circle of supportive friends. The action gradually progresses towards the much anticipated meeting with her father.

“22 Years” major achievement is tackling a complicated family drama head-on and yet concluding with a satisfying uplift. Avi’s emotional journey is accented by a memorable piano theme that reflects a modestly successful life, tumultuous childhood, ambitious future plans and an uncertain encounter.

Dawn Noel exhibits a very capable dramatic intelligence and range, introducing just enough emotional grit for the audience to feel her anger, frustration, and pain without coming across as starkly bitter or hopeless. She conveys a delicate, guarded hope that her life will turn out okay despite the uncertainty of how meeting with her father will affect her as depicted in the YouTube Trailer.

As with many short films, the challenge is telling a compelling story within a very unforgiving time constraint. “22 Years” delivers exceptional pace and keeps the audience interested with good rising action. However the low light, possibly intended to reflect the mood, created a shade effect making it difficult to see in some scenes. There was excessive camera shake that could have been reserved for the most dramatic moments instead of liberally inserted in nearly every scene.

“22 Years” delicately pulls your heart strings through a touchy emotional journey. A strong lead and well-rounded supporting cast deliver unrushed, down to earth performances showing how the pain of abandonment can lead to a much more fulfilling acceptance.