The Black Hole.

The opening scene of this short film begins with an office worker doing what appears to be a run of the mill office job. One can identify with him. Evidently he realises he is in a job that is neither rewarding financially nor motivationally. He is stood over a photocopier, doing what happens in every office environment in the world. His demeanour tells you it is one of the least pleasurable duties he performs on a daily basis. To emphasise the boredom endured the lead character’s disenchantment is summed up by what can only be described as an exaggerated sigh of exasperation. Even what should be a simple technique of putting the photocopier in motion is made worse by an apparent malfunction. A quick kick remedies this.

The actor is confronted by an image of a black circle imprinted centrally on A3 paper which bears no resemblance to the copy image expected.

Whilst appearing perplexed he thinks nothing of what has just occurred. It is only when he places his drinks cup by chance on the black circle and finds to his astonishment, that the cup is swallowed within what appears to be a black hole. Such is his confusion he is convinced the cup has gone through the worktop of the photocopier on which the paper has been placed. He bends down and finds nothing. He gingerly lowers his hand into the black circle and retrieves the cup and is confronted with his own ‘eureka’ moment. He realises the paper with the black circle on it enables him to penetrate anything it is placed upon, over or against. At this point his mind is racing and dissecting the potential of his discovery. Unfortunately as we shall see his actions are geared not for the good but with the intention of ‘payback time’ against the employers that he deems have been less than fair with him.

His first venture is like that of a small time crook. He penetrates a vending machine and nets the grand prize of a chocolate bar. Finding this enterprise rewarding, he then decides to go for the equivalent of the Great Train Robbery. Spying a safe in corner of the room, he places his paper with the black circle in front of the door. As with the vending machine his hand enters the safe and reappears with a clutch-full of cash. Not satisfied with this his sudden windfall, he decides it’s all or nothing, he will clean out the safe. Having to reach further into the safe to access more distant corners he manoeuvres his body inch by inch further into the safe. The viewer can see immediately what will befall the character who now resembles a cat burglar with only his feet visible from the outside of the safe. Then it happens; his whole body is engulfed by the safe, the paper that had been his entrance and in his mind his exit, slowly inches its way down the facade of the safe. What a pity he failed to read the fable of King Midas.

I found this short film to be thought provoking and without moralising too much draws the viewer’s attention to folly of greed. 

 Video : The Black Hole