Once a Year – A Life in Seven Birthdays – A Critique Review

Once a Year is a short film directed by Caleb Keye and Mertcan Omer Damoglu which follows seven birthdays in the life of a young man named Raymond. Setting up the story in just one location and through only seven scenes, this is a beautiful film that take us in the journey of a life time… all done in less than ten minutes.
There is plenty to admire in this project, the first of which is its sensibility. The story is simply beautiful. Far from the conventional three-arc structure, the film decides to show us these seven birthdays to show how Raymond goes from an excited kid to a tired adult. Yes, that sounds sad, but, well, that’s what a lot of us go through, right? When we were kids, life was somehow magical. Every day and every experience was an adventure. We didn’t care about the past and we barely thought about the future. The only thing that mattered was the present, and what better present than a birthday? When we are kids, birthdays are the most exciting day of the year – well, that and Christmas, but, birthdays are all about us, so… birthdays rule. There’s cake, presents, and, possibly, a big happy family celebrating you. Life is magical. But as years go by, you start realizing more about the complexities of life. Little by little you realize that not everything is wonder and joy, but that there are things that make you (or your family) sad or concerned… and then you’re a teenager, and those hormones drive you crazy, making you change your personality altogether. You become distant and self-absorbed. Your family might still make the effort, but what does that matter if you don’t? And how can you put any effort if you’re going through so many changes and even more realizations? And then you enter adulthood and as the world becomes bigger, your inner circle, those of people who really care about you, become smaller and smaller. And sure, you can still enjoy life and have fun, but, well… it’s no longer the same, is it? The wonder is gone and you don’t longer enjoy the present as much as before. If you’re not worried thinking about the future and all the things you have to figure out, from work to personal relationships, you’re probably nostalgic about that joy, and days start feeling the same, and now birthdays just don’t matter as much. They’re just days that remind you how old you are and how little you have achieved in comparison to what you expected… and you just seem unable to get out of your mind and enjoy things anymore.

Growing up is difficult and, to paraphrase John Lennon, nobody told us life would be like this… yet, not everything is sad. Yes, we enjoy things a little less and time flies by faster, but as long as we have someone we love by our side, things will be alright… and birthdays will have a meaning.
That’s what this film is about, and I can’t even begin to describe how impactful it was to me to watch it. This is a project that clearly comes from a place of love and reflection. What Keye and Damoglu have created here is an honest representation of most of us, adults who miss their joy for life, and who need to learn to get out of our troubled, saturated heads to recover it.

So, the film shines because of its themes, but also because of its narrative. Again, avoiding the typical three-arc structure, the story is told through seven vignettes that show us Raymond’s coming-of-age experience and rediscovery of his joy in life. The cinematography plays a significant role here as every shot is carefully planned and the camera movements help us to get into Raymond’s different worlds, even if the camera location barely ever changes. The lighting also comes to play a key role, working as a reflex of Raymond’s emotions. And as for the cast, it’s difficult to believe that we didn’t just see a boy going from 7 to 34 like Richard Linklater did in Boyhood. No. Here we have different actors playing Raymond, and they’re all equally convincing, perfectly embodying each one of his different versions.
In conclusion, it truly is a remarkable effort. Keye and Damoglu have managed to capture joy, angst, despair, and melancholy in their purest form in less than ten minutes. Beautiful.

Director Biography – Caleb Keyte, Mertcan Omer Damoglu

Brought together by chance during their university years, Mertcan Ömer Damoglu and Caleb Keyte have been inseparable since entering the film industry in 2019. Each has carved out their own niche—Mertcan mastering the craft of cinematography and Caleb excelling as a producer. As directors and writers, their combined talents have established them as a creative powerhouse. Fueled by a shared ambition to innovate and inspire, they founded Tier 1 Productions, a brand dedicated to developing and funding their collaborative projects, including short films, music videos, and other digital content. Their partnership is a testament to the synergy of their skills and vision, propelling them to create impactful and artistic work.