Short Film: How to Be Alone (2010)

Short films (usually defined as films 40 minutes or less) can be powerful, delivering an impactful story in a short timeframe, with every scene, every moment carrying weight. As a fan of the short film form, I want to highlight some examples of the medium that I love and hopefully bring more attention to the creators. I’ll be sharing narrative shorts in a multitude of genres: horror, action, comedy, romance, animation, and so on. Other shorts (like the one I’m presenting today) may be in the form of poems in which the visual medium of films complements and uplifts the language. And as I discover more of them, I may throw in some short docs and video essays that I find Bpartculularly compelling.

How to Be Alone

Directed By: Andrea Dorfman
Written By: Tanya Davis

What It’s About: A poetic contemplation on the value of solitude.

Why I Like It: Uplifting and beautiful, this short presents a poem that an instructional style that narrates the potential of solitude as a state to seek, rather than avoid. The imagery, music, editing, and animation come together with the words (sometimes scrawled across the screen) to express the full, soothing impact of the piece. Every time I watch How to Be Alone, I find myself calmed. It’s lovely.


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How to Be Alone

This was so moving and beautiful! I really, truely, deeply appreciated this reminder of what alone can mean and be, and felt the need to share it. It makes me want to go take a walk, wander the city streets, or just be still for a little while.