GROUP FILM REVIEW- STILL WYLDE

 Directed by: Ingrid Hass

Written by: Ingrid Hass

Starring:  Ingrid Hass (Gertie), Barry Rothbart (Sam)

It felt like watching someone laugh while holding back tears. The film made us feel both amused and unsettled at the same time. The film did not engage from the beginning, but it definitely picked up steam in the second act. It dropped into an awkward moment, which made it feel all the more real.

It follows A couple dealing with an unexpected pregnancy, the joy of pregnancy and the misery of miscarriage. They joke, they argue, they try to stay normal, but something heavier is always just under the surface. With it comes the very real pain of loss. Grief doesn’t always look like crying. Sometimes it looks like sarcasm, silence, or saying the wrong thing to the right person. The emotional twist wasn’t in the plot, but in how the characters handled the situation. The mix of humour and sadness kept shifting.

 They weren’t perfect, and that made them believable. The chemistry between her and the male lead is natural, making their emotional struggle believable. The performances didn’t feel like acting — they felt like two people caught in something complicated and trying to pretend they’re fine.

Ingrid Haas, who plays Gertie, was particularly impressive in her role. Her character stands out in the cast. She held everything together with jokes and eye rolls, but you could see she was barely holding it together, which makes the film all the more captivating. Their relationship was the whole film, not dramatic, just real. They didn’t always say the right things, but you could tell they cared.

The cinematography was clean and focused. Nothing flashy. It lets the characters breathe without getting in the way. The use of very long shots for space in the waiting room scenes stood out, as they were close but still felt far apart. Everything was soft and slightly muted. It felt like a cloudy day, not dark, but not bright either. Just in between. The film's calm and clean visuals, simple camera shots, and soft lighting create a warm and gentle atmosphere that suits the serious mood.

The sound was quiet most of the time, which matched the tension. The director's use of silence and pauses effectively conveys the weight of each moment, while the sparse background music keeps the focus on the characters' emotions. Every line came through clearly, and the silence in between made the tension louder. The absence of music works in the film's favour by not overwhelming the scenes.

It gave more than expected. We thought it would just be a comedy about pregnancy, but it was about holding pain in and still trying to be a couple. The writing was sharp and awkward in the best way; it made emotions feel raw and real, whilst the short length meant we only saw a slice of their story.  We felt sympathy for Gertie and Sam for the loss of their unborn child. I would recommend the story, especially to people who like stories that don’t spell everything out. It’s about emotions that are messy and unclear, just like real life. The film stays with you because it doesn’t give you closure. It leaves you thinking about what people hide behind jokes, and what they’re afraid to say out loud.

STORY  BREAKDOWN

·       Protagonist: Gertie

·       Antagonist: High expectation

·     Protagonist Aim: Her goal isn’t just to go through a pregnancy, it’s to find emotional clarity in the messiness of it all

·    Antagonist's Goal: These expectations were silent rules: women should feel joy in pregnancy, couples should be united, and everything should be figured out. But reality breaks those rules.

·     Initial Conflict: Gertie struggles to keep up a brave face, to be funny, to be okay, even when she’s not.

·       Climax: It’s not about keeping the baby or losing it — it’s deeper. It’s about whether their relationship can survive this moment. Whether Gertie herself can survive the emotional imbalance without falling apart.

·       Resolution: There’s no perfect closure, but the resolution lies in honesty. When Gertie finally allows the tension to surface, the silence becomes real communication. The moment doesn’t fix everything, but it lets them be human, not perfect. 

 Directed by: Ingrid Hass

Written by: Ingrid Hass

Starring:  Ingrid Hass (Gertie), Barry Rothbart (Sam)

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