My first Impulse Post is about an afternoon I spent with Magda and Noah watching a series of short films. We had planned the session mainly to see different approaches to campaign films and socially critical storytelling, but it turned into something much more interesting. We ended up not just watching films but really discussing what makes certain stories stay with us and why others, even when technically impressive, do not leave the same emotional mark.
We went through a mixture of campaign videos, social awareness films and artistic shorts. The overall production quality was high in almost all of them. You could tell that the filmmakers cared about their topics and that a lot of work went into cinematography, editing and sound. Yet despite this level of craft, only a few of the films truly resonated with me. This surprised me because I assumed that technical excellence alone would strongly influence my reaction. Instead, I noticed that films with flawless visuals sometimes felt distant or overly polished, while simpler ones with emotional clarity had a much stronger impact.
After every film we paused to talk about what worked well and what did not. These discussions were surprisingly honest and open. All three of us had different backgrounds and preferences, and that made the conversation more interesting. Sometimes one of us connected deeply with a film that the others found unremarkable, and other times we all reacted in exactly the same way. Through these reactions we slowly started to identify patterns.
By the end of the afternoon we realised that a few specific criteria were consistently important for us. One of them was the number of protagonists. Films felt stronger when they focused on one or two characters rather than trying to spread attention across many. This made the emotional connection more direct, because the film had the time and space to explore a character’s inner world. Another important factor was the intelligence of the story. We liked narratives that had a twist or a surprising detail but still remained grounded in reality. When a film tried too hard to be clever, it often lost emotional authenticity. When it was too straightforward, it sometimes felt predictable.
What worked best for us were the films that took a real-life issue or problem and presented it through a relatable and emotionally engaging story. This combination made the message feel more grounded and impactful. Instead of feeling like we were being lectured, we experienced the issue through a human perspective. It became less about the abstract concept and more about what that concept means in someone’s life. Films like Break the Cycle of Disadvantage or The Robbery showed exactly how powerful this approach can be. Both managed to take a social topic and embed it into a story that felt honest, personal and human.
In the end, the afternoon taught me something important about filmmaking. A film does not need to be complicated or visually overwhelming to make a point. What it needs is emotional clarity and a connection to experiences people can understand. When a story is built around real human moments, even a short film can feel meaningful and stay with the audience long after it ends.
My favorite films where:
