REFLECTOR

Short Film Competition

Director Dave Hill

USA, 2011, 26 minutes, color

EXHIBITION PREMIERE: February 15, 2012

WATCH TRAILER  |  WATCH FULL FILM

SYNOPSIS:

It's 1977, and two young missionaries in the deserts of South West Africa take a weekend off to do a little amateur astronomy. Things don't go quite as planned.

CAST AND CREDITS:

Director: Dave Hill

Writer: Dave Hill

Starring: Brendan Coughlin, Demaree Hill, Jake Dawsey

REFLECTOR

Short Film Competition

Director Dave Hill, USA, 2011, 26 min, color

WATCH TRAILER  |  WATCH FULL FILM

FULL SUMMARY:

Taking place in 1977, an African police unit is waiting around in the desert, bored. A call over the radio saying that the captain's brother has been killed interrupts their day. Dan and Sara, American missionaries to South West Africa, have a weekend off. Dan is an amateur astronomer and brings Sara along to see 'an occultation.' Their driver doesn't show up, so they decided to walk along the desert road.

After a while, they stumble upon a car with a dead African man next to it. They take the car and they continue their journey. Out of nowhere, they run into Dan's friend Jake. Jake has also come to Africa to see the 'occultation,' but without telling Dan. We also find out that Dan used the mission trip as a way to pay for his trip to Africa. Sara is upset at this news. They hear the African police vehicle in the distance. Jake suggests they leave the car, Dan follows, but Sara hides under the car. The troops search the car, but find nothing.

Dan, Jake, and Sara continue their journey, and Dan finally explains that by seeing the 'occultation,' they'll be the first to count all the rings of Uranus.  Running out of time, they run up a rocky hill, and set up their telescopes. They end up seeing all 13 rings.  The next morning though, the police officers find them sleeping in their car, order them outside, and haul them away. Their discoveries are never reported.