Directed by Tristan Wauchope, I Want to Forget follows the story of Tommy, a tormented man who is trying to forget a traumatic memory. Years ago, while he was driving at night, a desperate woman named Carmen stopped his car, asking for help and saying she would die if he didn’t take her away with him. Tommy didn’t believe her and Carmen’s words came true. She was brutally murdered and no one understands what happened… no one, but Tommy. Now it’s too late to do anything about it, and Tommy has become obsessed with trying to find out more about Carmen. Yet, after years of terrible nightmares and regret, Tommy has decided that he can’t do this anymore and so, he searches for the help of a mysterious healer who presents him with a rather unusual solution to his pain… One that will make him go both beyond this world and deeper within himself.
There are plenty of things to like about this short film, the main of which might be its director’s ability to create such a poignant story in such a short amount of time. At less than thirteen minutes, Wauchope takes us on a ride that is both darkly realistic and magical as we go deeper into the life (and mind) of a man who made a mistake and is haunted by its consequences. As a protagonist, Tommy is a relatable person. He is just some regular man who thinks that the person asking for his help is either crazy or desperate and tries to look after himself first. A selfish act? Maybe. Then again, in this time and age, kind hearts are taken advantage of, and he could just fear for his own safety. What would do any of us in Tommy’s situation is difficult to say. Sure, we can come up with an easy answer and claim that we would have helped Carmen right away… but that’s only because we are watching a film and following its logic. But in real life logic and narrative are not part of the process, and risks and dangers are everywhere. So, it probably wouldn’t be such an easy thing to do… and this is where the beauty of this film relies on, as it provokes its viewer to think deeply about Tommy’s predicament, and then to deal with the consequences.
How Wauchope explores Tommy’s initial doubt and later regret it’s incredibly human and so, it’s very easy to understand Tommy before and after the event. This, then, makes the film a rather realistic piece… than then takes a surprisingly magical twist as the healer Tommy is seeing provides him with a solution that will make him confront his pain and, maybe, a way to move on. We don’t want to give anything away regarding the ending, but we do encourage the readers of this review to watch it full as it’s certainly a very original way to finish a story like this.
Therefore, this is a moving piece that shines thanks to its thought-provoking script, but also to its confident direction and performances. Stephen Elberg brings a realistic approach to Tommy, while Alexis Sierra turns the Healer into an enigmatic figure from the first moment she appears. The editing and cinematography also help to set up the mode, and while the visual effects might feel a little limited, they don’t distract us from the deepness of this story. If anything, the sound was rather uneven as the music and effects were loud while the conversations were difficult to follow at points.
Beyond this, again, this is a strong, thoughtful piece, and we recommend people to watch Wauchope’s works because there is some outstanding realism in its emotions and performances.
Director’s Biography: Tristan Wauchope
Tristan Wauchope is an independent film writer/director from South Florida, with Jamaican and Cuban heritage. His work focuses on exploring emotional and philosophical themes, often challenging traditional genre boundaries to create unique and thought-provoking stories.
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