Holding on When Time Moves Forward

Read Time:5 Minute, 3 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
In Loving Memory
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Genre: Animation, Romance
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 4m
Director(s): Kathryn Bravo
Writer(s): Kathryn Bravo
Cast: Chloe Siegel, Sonya Reznikova, Michelle Viard, Isaiah Richburg
Where to Watch: shown at the 2025 Art Is Alive Film Festival

RAVING REVIEW: Some short films aim for scale; others understand that intimacy can carry more weight than exhibition. IN LOVING MEMORY sits firmly in the second category. Clocking in at just four minutes, Kathryn Bravo’s animated short doesn’t try to overwhelm you with elaborate storylines or dramatic twists. Instead, it builds its emotion through restraint, reflection, and an understanding of how memory takes shape when someone you love is no longer present. The film’s brevity is not a limitation — it’s a deliberate choice that lets the emotional core land with clarity.

Bravo approaches the story with respect for the subject matter rather than sentimentality. The concept is direct: Esther Hoffman reflects on her late husband, revisiting the foundation they built together. What makes it effective is not the simplicity of the setup, but the way the short treats grief as a lived reality rather than a thematic device. It doesn’t dramatize tragedy or center on loss as an event. Instead, it focuses on the memories that remain intact and the ones that feel fragile. That choice keeps the tone grounded and avoids the melodramatic swings that often appear in short-form romance pieces.

The film is produced using Unreal Engine, a tool that has become increasingly popular in independent animation for its flexibility and control. Bravo uses it with confidence, blending motion capture, stylized character design, and carefully lit environments into a cohesive aesthetic that supports the story rather than drawing attention away from it. It has a polished yet handmade quality — a combination that mirrors the film’s intent. The world feels shaped by human touch, even though its construction is a digital playground.

The film's strength lies in how it portrays memories. Bravo doesn’t try to force emotion. Instead, she presents moments that feel familiar: shared laughter, quiet glances, routines that reveal the everyday foundation of a marriage. These scenes are not monumental to anyone but the people who lived them, and that’s exactly the point. By choosing the ordinary over the dramatic, the film captures how real relationships are built — not from sweeping declarations, but from shared experiences that matter only because they belong to two people who see them as personal milestones.

For a short created within the framework of a student project, there’s an impressive level of technical coordination. The editing by Aaron Bravo and the sound work by Kathryn Bravo add to the sense of cohesion. Evan Szypulski's music is gentle without leaning on sentimentality, contributing to the film’s tone. Motion capture technicians, model designers, and the rest of the cast/crew all play a role in bringing the movie to life, and their contributions show. The world feels intentional, with each element supporting the moment in time rather than showcasing the technology.

Some viewers may wish for a deeper exploration of Esther and George’s past or a more detailed look into the specific moments that shaped their marriage. The film gestures toward a lifetime without depicting it. But this is also part of its design. It aims to evoke, not exhaustively retell, the story of a couple’s shared history.

What elevates IN LOVING MEMORY is the way it treats remembrance. Instead of dwelling on the pain of loss, the short focuses on the beauty of what remains. It shows grief not as a collapse but as a continuation — a lived, ongoing experience shaped by love rather than defined by absence. That perspective keeps the film from feeling heavy, despite its subject matter. It leaves you with warmth instead of sorrow, even though the underlying story is a tribute to someone gone.

It’s a tender, heartfelt piece that succeeds at what it sets out to do. The film resonates more as a vignette than a full portrait, but its honesty and clarity make it memorable within that scope. Kathryn Bravo demonstrates clear artistic vision and an ability to make small, emotionally grounded films that connect with viewers without relying on excessive sentiment or forced symbolism.

IN LOVING MEMORY succeeds because it respects the sincerity of its own emotions. Nothing feels exaggerated, rushed, or pushed. The short allows its message to emerge through the simplicity of its design and the authenticity of its performances. It's the kind of film that doesn’t compete for attention but earns it. By the time the credits roll, you’re left with the sense that you’ve witnessed something personal — a tribute shaped by care, reflection, and the desire to honor a life built in partnership.

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