MIRACLE FISH is a great example of why short films are worth our time and should be more readily available for the masses to view. In just 17 minutes, writer/director Luke Doolan combines both outrageous fantasy and shocking reality to tell the story of a picked-on boy who, on his eighth birthday, wishes everyone would just go away, only to find that maybe his wish came true.
Eight-year-old Joe is disappointed to find that his birthday is nothing special or out of the ordinary. His mom puts a little surprise in his lunch, though - a "miracle fish" that can make dreams come true. It's not long, however, before Joe's only wish is that everyone would just go away; so sick is he of being continuously picked on and heckled at school.
After retreating to the nurse's office, Joe begins to realize that he is, in fact, alone. He tiptoes quietly through the school to find it fully vacant. Unable to grasp how his dream could have come true, Joe's feelings turn to loneliness. Is he the last person on Earth? That's a scary thought for a boy his age.
The audience soon learns, however, that Joe is not alone, and that the thought of him being the last person on Earth is not the scariest thing that he'll be left to think about. I refuse to give any more details here, because the power of MIRACLE FISH is in the twist the film takes; you need to experience it for yourself.
MIRACLE FISH was nominated for the Best Live Action Short Oscar, eventually losing to "The New Tenants." I've only seen a clip of that film and have not seen the other nominees, so I can't offer a quality comparison, but I really enjoyed MIRACLE FISH. It is a great reminder that one powerful idea is often best conveyed in a short cinematic burst. MIRACLE FISH can be found online if you look hard enough. It will also most likely be available via iTunes, and the Academy has started to release nominated short films in a DVD collection. That's $20 worth spending.
3.0 out of 4
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