Wasp (film)

Wasp is a short film (26 minutes) written and directed by Andrea Arnold. Released in 2003, it stars Natalie Press as a struggling single mother determined not to let her four young children prove an obstacle in the pursuit of rekindling a relationship with an old ex-boyfriend Danny Dyer. Dartford (Arnold's hometown) is the setting.

It is available on the Cinema 16: World Short Films and Cinema 16: European Short Films (US Special Edition) DVDs, and as a bonus feature on the Fish Tank DVD in the UK.

Plot summary

Zoe, rapidly descending a flight of stairs, baby in hand, and three other children in tow. Zoe gets into a physical altercation with the neighbour. Tensions remain high as the two women and their children shout at one another and hurl insults.

They all head home, with the children asking for chips. A man then pulls up in a car and is curious as to who the children are. Zoe tells him that they belong to a mate of hers and she is just looking after them. He asks her if she would like to go for a drink. Zoe agrees to meet him.

Zoe reveals to her children that the man's name is David and her children seem excited about this, as there is the allusion to 'David' Beckham. They return to their home and Zoe attempts to find a sitter for the children. Zoe then notices a wasp flying near one of her windows, which she opens to release it.

The wasp flies away and Zoe becomes enraged when she notices that there are remnants of ribs around her baby's mouth. Zoe responds by violently shaking Kelly and screams: 'I told you to look after him, didn't I?' After chastising Kelly, the family then embraces and Zoe apologises. The next shot shows the children eating in David's car and Zoe looking very troubled. David indicates to Zoe that he wants to have a chat.

Cast

• Natalie Press – Zoe
• Danny Dyer – Dave
• Jodie Mitchell – Kelly
• Molly Griffiths – Sinead
• Kaitlyn Raynor – Leanne
• Danny Daley – Kai
• Lizzie Colbert – Bullet-head
• Ashley Routledge – Brown-haired girl
• Tabitha Crewe – Barmaid

Awards won

• 2004 Academy Award for Live Action Short Film^[1]
• 2004 Bermuda Shorts Award at the Bermuda International Film Festival
• 2005 Short Filmmaking Award, Sundance Film Festival
• 2004 Best Live-Action Short, Toronto Worldwide Short Film Festival
• 2003 Best Short Film, Stockholm Film Festival
• 2004 Best International Short Film, Regensburg Short Film Week
• 2004 Best of the Festival, Palm Springs International Short Film Festival
• 2004 Main Prize, Prize of the Ecumenical Jury – Honorable Mention, and Prize of the Ministry for Development, Culture and Sports, Oberhausen International Short Film Festival

References

External links

• Wasp at the Internet Movie Database
• Wasp, British Films Catalogue