A World War II Student Short Film.
Genre: Drama, thriller, period-piece.
Introduction:
Set in 1940 during the Second World War, two British soldiers, Edward and James, find themselves lost in France after being separated from their unit. With limited resources and only each other to rely on, the pair make their way through a war-torn French town in an attempt to reach an evacuation point and return home, until they suddenly find out they aren’t completely alone when they encounter a group of German patrol officers who outnumber them. Not knowing if they will survive, Edward and James’ hopes of returning home and to their families grows smaller by the minute.
Inspiration:
The story of ‘Last December’ grew entirely from the personal inspirations of our writer Matthew Pate… starting with his grandfather ‘Edward’, who served in the war and whose name was given to the film’s main character. Edward’s son ‘George’ shares his grandfather’s middle name, whilst the character of ‘James’ was named after Matthew’s brother. Lastly, the German General’s daughter ‘Lillie’ was inspired by his mother’s favourite flower.
Whilst the concept alone is appealing, our intention was never to just create another stereotypical World War II film focused on battles or patriotism. Instead, we set out to challenge the simplistic portrayal/narrative of the Germans being mere “villains”. No matter the side, every soldier was still fundamentally human with families and loved ones back home. Our focus therefore was to explore these universal bonds/themes, visually represented through the teddy bear… the one thing that unites these supposed sworn enemies.
The Process:
We filmed ‘Last December’ over two days at Kenilworth Castle (secured by our producer Anna) as part of our final semester project at film school. The shoot was demanding and stressful for most of the cast and crew alike, but particularly for director Lewis Anthony Smith. This was primarily due to the ambitious concept,
a tight budget of just £1,200, and limited shooting time with no opportunity for reshoots. Challenges on set included missing equipment, disruptive background noise, and an overall hectic schedule… requiring rapid filming with little to no room for extra takes or in-depth director/actor discussions.
Despite the obstacles, Lewis’s clear vision and the professionalism of the whole team meant that the project was completed successfully and to a high standard. Cinematographer Raziel worked efficiently under pressure to capture every sequence, whilst production designer Oliver provided costumes/props that made the world visually striking and historically authentic. Anna’s contributions as producer/1st AD were also vital, especially when it came to securing resources and ensuring that the set ran smoothly. Finally, our actors were able to deliver consistently strong, believable and emotionally engaging performances throughout… shaping ‘Last December’ into the unique, relatable, and moving film that we couldn’t be more proud to share.
What It Means to Be a Finalist:
It’s extremely humbling to see ‘Last December’ being received so positively by audiences, film lovers, and festivals alike… especially given the many challenges we faced in bringing the project to life. The response confirms that all the hard work, stress, and dedication was more than worthwhile. We put so much care, passion, and effort into realising the vision, so it’s incredibly rewarding to have our work recognised/appreciated for what it is. For director Lewis, he literally couldn’t ask for a better reception to his debut short film… marking an incredible start to his journey as an aspiring filmmaker and director.
Where to Watch/Follow:
After its film festival run, ‘Last December’ will be available for everyone to watch online via YouTube, Vimeo, and other relevant platforms. Follow director Lewis Anthony Smith for further updates on this, as well as his upcoming directorial projects set for release in the very near future.
Please follow our exceptionally talented team below on Instagram:
Lewis Anthony Smith (Director): @lewanthonysmith
Matthew Pate (Writer/Actor): @mattpate.03
Anna Piggott-Reeves (Producer): @annapreevesfilm
Raziel Rehman (Director of Photography): @leizarfilms
Oliver Butler (Production Designer): @butlrs