Wasp is a 2003 British short film directed by Andrea Arnold. First things first: this was a fantastic watch. Wasp is roughly 25 minutes long, and I was enthralled throughout. The story follows a young single mother and her four kids. One day, David, her romantic interest, asks her out. Zoë (played by Natalie Press) goes out with him later that night, but with no one to watch her kids, she leaves them outside a pub without telling David. After a wasp lands on the youngest kid's face and enters his mouth, Zoë realizes her priorities as a mother.

It's no surprise that this film won the Best Live Action Short Film award. The acting in this short film was great, and I appreciate the insightful comments it made about social class and being a single mother. The story illustrated how selfishness can sometimes overwhelm a person, as exemplified by Zoë’s decision to leave her kids outside and only check on them after one of her daughters screamed "MOM!!" while Zoë and David were making out in his car. The sheer panic on Zoë's face as she finds a wasp climbing into her child's mouth truly sold me on this film. Also, David's empathetic observation of Zoë's panicked state allows the audience to truly understand her humanity. Her emotions are so raw and real in this scene.

I appreciate the use of a handheld camera throughout the entire story. It added to the anxiety that the characters were feeling. Furthermore, Robbie Ryan's cinematography was fantastic and immersive. Ryan employed numerous low-angle shots to suggest that the characters' impoverished living conditions might cause them to view the world from a lower perspective. For instance, a low-angle shot captures Zoë in the kitchen as she reaches for the sugar from the cupboard. Delving deeper, Robbie Ryan uses close-up shots of the characters's faces when they are talking to make the audience feel even more uncomfortable, especially when Zoë is flirting with David or when they kiss. The camera seems to be intruding on their moments together, perhaps reminding the audience that Zoë is ditching her kids.

Overall, this was a great film about sacrifices and motherhood. I recommend this film to practically anyone since it was so enjoyable to watch.