35 Aside (1996) User Reviews

Funny and knowing

[dmnkeen · 9/10 · 28 October 2000]

"35 Aside" is one of those rare treats that cheers you up every time you see it. The acting, especially from James Mahon, is terrific, and Damien O'Donnell's confident handling of the material shows he has a great future ahead of him. Every camera angle and edit adds to the humour and the plight of the film's young protagonist, and there will be nobody who does not cringe at their own schoolday memories whilst watching this.

All in all, great stuff which paved the way for O'Donnell's equally skillful treatment of the marvellous "East Is East", which I also urge you to see.

Best short ever?

[motormouth · 9/10 · 9 October 1998]

The plot:a young boys life at a new school. The result: a great first film. O'Donnell manages to direct a sharp witty and laugh-out-loud funny film with very little recourse to dialog at all. The whole thing is beautifully shot,slightly surreal lighting and clever camera angles, working together with the visual comedy, make this one of the best short films you will ever see. There is little point in telling you the plot, far better to just get the film and let it all unfold. If he does as well with East is East, this man will go far.

The greatest short of all time!!!

[Rick O'Shea · 10/10 · 8 September 1999]

35 Aside is quite simply one of the funniest and most complete shorts it has ever been my privilege to see. It's plot is as simple as "Boy goes to school and doesn't fit in - Mammy intervenes" but like in many great movies it's not where the plot is going but how you get there. I've seen it a dozen times or more and it is genuinely funnier on every viewing - his debut feature East Is East is just as compelling.