Til Morning Review: The making of a defining moment in life

REVIEW: by Peter Nichols | 4 of 5 Stars

Logline
When Julia can’t pay for her tuition, she has to choose between surrendering to her conservative family and selling herself to a stranger.

Introduction
‘Til Morning is about the importance of family (both blood, and chosen), the danger of self-pride, and how these two are enhanced by long distance and political crisis.

Review
‘Til Morning is a coming of age short film about Julia, a Brazilian student in her final semester of college in New York City. After losing her family ties due to political disagreements, she has no alternatives to pay for rent and to complete school. In ‘Till Morning, Julia’s last remaining allies are tested, until she chooses between surrendering to her conservative family, or selling herself to a stranger.

‘Til Morning is an interesting title, it asks we cross our fingers, wait to see, or time a decision. However, time is core to its progression, and serve as dramatic turns in the story. So, what is at stake? Julia’s tuition! Our protagonist goes through a fundamental coming of age experience. Julia decides she wants to go it alone, not depend on her parents. So, she goes for a job, but stumbles on an offer she couldn’t refuse.

The Official Trailer for ‘Til Morning directed by Ana Moioli & Ryan Cairns

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Values collide with choices in the movie ‘Til Morning. They create stakes for Julia to finish her studies. Like any immigrant, Julia is shifting ideology, politics, and gender overview. In an intimate moving story that pitches a young woman against reality for a paid-relationship, to get through her final semester, we easily empathize with the choice Julia makes. Yet, we do fear for her, because she is now in bed with a stranger.

Simple domestic issues will trigger more choices, that may lead to abuse, injury, and mental health issues. While Julia is decisive, her choice is unwise, given that not Jada, or her family know anything about it. Her actions reads rebellious or dangerous from a moral or conservative standpoint. She may have put her final semester in danger. This deepens the audience’s empathy for Julia-we worry for her knowing the other alternative is safer.

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The choices we make are related to our understanding. Julia urged by self-pride refuses Jada’s idea to re-engage her father for her tuition. The stakes are time based, which drops a weight of need on Julia. But Julia knows her values have changed, and her conservative parents who worry because of her choices will demand a change of politics. Which, of course, will lead her to drop her new worldview for her tuition.

Conclusion
The issues of value and choices rest unsettled between Julia and her family. The expected option is for Julia to re-engage her conservative views in return for the tuition. That is a bid to get her to quit her re-educated worldview. The other bid is for her to go it alone; to fund her tuition. Julia choose a relationship to a stranger to fund her education. While, the film kept their deal secret, we are allowed to decide what it was after we see Julia leave to Jada, and co-habit with Andrew at his apartment.

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Writer & Directed: Ryan Cairns and Ana Moioli

Cast
Luísa Galatti as Julia
John Squires as Andrew
Giorgia Valenti as Jada
Nelson Baskeville as Father

Producer: Luísa Galatti, Giorgia Valenti,
Associate Producer: Alvanei Martins, Ana Paula Martins, Eugene Suh, Alex Armando Torres
Film Editing: Ryan Cairns
Cinematography: Ricardo Acioli
Music: Kaylee Shahira

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