Cold War (2015) - The tension of silence - 7/10 (14/09/20)

Cold War is a short film with a length of eight and a half minutes that can be categorized as drama or thriller. It has been directed by Australian filmmaker Richard Gray who has been involved in movies such as Summer Coda, Broken Ghost and Robert the Bruce. This short film has been released on DVD with the film Sugar Mountain set in a similar environment and featuring a similar tone. This short film features Yulia Klass as mysterious woman who also has a cameo as a nurse in Sugar Mountain. The only other character in this short movie is a quiet Soviet soldier played by Robert Patrick who is known for films such as Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Wayne's World and Gangster Squad. This short film tells the story of a Soviet soldier who makes his way across Bering Street in order to defect to Alaska. As he arrives on the coast of an isolated island, he gets surprised by a mysterious woman. Without being able to speak English, he tries to communicate his intentions to her.

This short film is based upon historical facts and comes along with a very short but twisted story. Not one single word is spoken in the short film which makes the gestures of the actor and the actress even more meaningful. The atmosphere is tense, mysterious and even dramatic at times. The gloomy natural landscapes provide further dark vibes. The moody soundtrack blends in perfectly. Despite its restricted length, this short film feels almost plodding which goes along with its overall smooth pace.

In the end, Cold War is a good short film and an interesting tribute to Alaskan and Soviet history. The actor and actress manage to impress without uttering a single word which is quite unusual. The story is overall simple but has one minor twist that is quite intriguing. If you have purchased the very good drama and thriller Sugar Mountain, make sure to check out this similarly solid short movie in the bonus section.