A melancholic search into the realms of trauma, memory, and the unavoidable scars of war, 'ECHOES' by Bradford Bevans McClane is a touching look into the human condition of traumatic, scarred memory within the confines of war. The movie is set against the background of an empty forest during World War II and continues into the sunset years of the life of the main character, so it shows the devastating consequences of PTSD in a sensitive and detailed manner. It is an extremely human tale, with one of the strongest character growths and moody imagery.
The essence of 'ECHOES' is a young soldier (played by Bradford Bevan McClane) who symbolically represents the helplessness of people forced to deal with the atrocities of warfare. Even at first encounter, we learn that he is filled to the brim with a certain feeling of terror-his eyes, wildly searching over the battlefield, his breathing quick and shallow, his movements uncertain. The violent disorientation that grips the fragile mind of the soldier is brilliantly portrayed through the camera that is up-close and personal, and punches through the muffled sounds of war to give McClane the sense of isolation even in the midst of friends. The fear experienced by the young man is not the mere response to the threat that is physically present in the world around him, but something much deeper and greater, more existential, as he already seems to feel that this experience will torment him all his life long.
The cut to the old soldier (performed by John Tauranac), where terror stays, is coolly transformed into something that can scare him to the core of his life as time goes on. McClane contrasts the flashbacks of the young man in the battle scene to the old man living his day-to-day life in a world that appears, most of the time, to conceal fright. The scenes of the silence of the life of this old man are the most powerful ones in the short film, where the sounds of the trauma of this old man can be heard louder than words. He shudders at the least noise and looks anxiously at the nonexistent shadows, and his hands are shaking when he is left behind. His memories of his past find him even during a time of no war. The little protective motion of his hands reminds us how bowed down on the inside his younger self is. It is not only PTSD that McClane encompasses, but also immerses in a world of unbearable isolation and being thrown such a burden, even reaching old age and a world that no longer resembles the one he has been fighting to save.
Cinematography is vital in highlighting the psychological condition of a soldier. The war zone appears in dull colours, and the same light reflects in the lonely life of the older man. Such visual continuity brings a feeling of timelessness, and mixing the past and present gives an impression that the time has never really passed for the soldier.
Showcasing a perfectly developed protagonist and highly evocative storytelling, 'ECHOES' proves that McClane is a filmmaker who can craft a very intimate yet universal story. It is an essential viewing for those who want to gain more insight into the human consequences of war.
Written by Vlad A.G