Between Us
UK, 2004
Directors: Charlotte Bruus-Christensen, Stefan Mork
Language: English
Colour: Colour
Running Time: 9 minutes
Short Synopsis
An encounter of a boy and a girl during a traffic jam, when in the back of their parents' cars their two different worlds come close to converging.
Long synopsis
Lukas is stuck in a traffic jam with his parents. He desperately tries to distract himself from their bickering by listening to his walkman, but the batteries are dead. Despondent and bored Lukas sinks into his seat and looks out of the rainy car window. He catches sight of a young girl of similar age sitting in the back of a bigger and nicer car. The two of them make eye contact and start to communicate using gestures and scribbled messages. Although they are listening to the same music - as they find out - they are from different worlds.
The girl obviously comes from a well-off background. Her car does have electric windows, whereas Lukas cannot even open his window as the handle is broken. Her parents seem to be attentive and cheerful while his parents are still arguing and being dismissive about him.
Just as Lukas is about to find out the girl's phone number, her row starts moving. Lukas shouts at his dad to move, but is roughly pushed back into his seat by his father. He can't but watch the traffic moving in the parallel lane.
Background information
About the film
Between Us is a fine example of how multi-skilling can create a perfect composition of pictures, camera movements and sound. As well as sharing directing duties, Bruus- Christensen also wrote the script and shot the pictures while Mork edited and designed the sound. The two National Film and Television School graduates have formed a close working relationship which has seen them produce commercials and short films that reveal a shared passion for human stories. For Between Us they were awarded for the Best Young Director in Broadcast Young Talent Awards in Association with Skillset in 2005.
About the film-makers
Charlotte Bruus-Christensen has worked as a cinematographer for different film companies and is writing her first feature. Stefan Mork, who before going to the NFTS worked as an editor for Lars von Trier's Zentropa, and edited Big Brother, has worked as sound designer on the Jim Henson company feature Mirror Mask and has done commercials and shorts including an Amnesty International cinema campaign. Both Charlotte and Stefan have since worked as sound designer on shorts and feature films.
After filming Between Us, they co-directed the short film "The Marl Pitt", which became the basis for "Working as Filmmakers", the Danish film education program for secondary schools.
Teaching materials and additional materials
The teaching materials have been developed by practising teachers to provide a springboard for your own work with your pupils. Feel free to use and adapt them appropriate to your pupils' needs.
The additional materials, provided by the film-makers, can be used to develop your work with the film and deepen pupils' understanding of the process of film-making.
