Ari: Being a Kid is Tough, Being Yourself is Even Harder

By Omeleto

Being a kid is tough. Being yourself is even harder.

Overweight, shy and introverted, Ari wants nothing more than to fit in. He develops a crush on his fellow student, Jess, and attempts to lose weight and become more outgoing in his quest to belong.

But his efforts only cause him more humiliation and pain, making him feel even lonelier and sadder. Finally, he makes a public declaration of his own self-acceptance — and discovers his own value.

This touching coming-of-age short touches on universal themes and common experiences that have been mined before, but director Alex Murawski offers a fresh, engaging take on the genre, capturing Ari’s story with beautifully precise camerawork and well-honed performances. They bring to life a well-crafted script that underplays the emotions without ever undercutting them, and the result is a film that is still sensitive and avoids melodrama.

“Ari” immerses the viewer in the main character’s inner life, truly allowing audiences to inhabit his existence and open up a wellspring of compassion. Self-acceptance and the courage to be yourself are universal themes, but Ari’s final actions in the film are surprisingly thought-provoking and heartwarming — and will have you smiling to yourself at the end.

Transcript provided by YouTube:

00:05
Screen Australia and Azure Productions Present
00:06
00:15
An Alex Murawski Film
00:38
*idle noise* ARi
00:45
*whistle*
00:53
pass over here
00:55
00:59
01:02
ari get up there stay with action
01:05
01:12
01:13
01:15
*heavy breathing*
01:17
01:19
01:21
01:23
01:25
01:27
01:29
01:31
01:33
01:35
*chatting*
01:37
01:50
02:50
let’ go , up and down hooo that is
02:57
02:58
02:59
ride like you wont stop till the end of the day
03:29
shhhh
03:50
even you think you show me around school
03:53
it’s my best day… Ari
03:58
quite
04:11
re-decent Ari
04:12
i am not destroy little re-decent
04:15
are you familiar with that word?
04:20
you need to out yourself out a little more
04:23
get involved
04:34
04:47
ari hey
04:50
there we go
04:53
can you hear me?
04:55
just keep breathing
04:57
you were doing so well
04:59
05:01
05:03
*buzzing noises*
05:33
05:45
05:49
05:55
jess..
06:22
IM A BIG BOY
06:35
and now the award for the most improved
06:39
and it goes to
06:41
Ari
06:44
06:49
come on up Ari
06:53
well done Ari for wonderful effort
07:01
there you go say a few words the floor is yours
07:28
hurry up, Jason shut up
07:34
go
07:35
08:03
08:08
08:09
08:10
08:12
08:14
08:16
08:18
*clapping*
08:20
08:22
08:24
08:26
08:28
08:30
08:32
08:34
08:36
08:38
08:40
08:42
08:44
08:46
Ari: Jaxon Graham-Wilson, Jess: Tearnie Coupland, Mr. McCreath: Alan Dukes, Scott: Isaiah Lane, Jason; Lewis Defina, Spin Instructor: Tam Hurly, Teacher: Anteha Hewett
08:47
08:48
08:50
Writer/Director: Alex Murawski, Producer: Annmaree J.Bell, Cinematographer: Hosh Flavell, Production/ Costume Designer: Ella Carey, Editor:Danielle Boesenberg, Sound Designer: Brooke Trezise
08:52
Production Manager: Nat Amoore, Production Assistant: Jamie Gray, First Assistant Director: Scott Lovelock, Continuity: Angela Miller, Accountant: Matthew Carter, Bookkeeper: Colleen Neal, Unit Manager: Jhon Frank
08:54
Unit Assistant: Kurt Martin, Stills Photographer; Alex Lee, Stunt Coordinator: Spike Cherrie, Carter: Elvis Foods
08:56
08:58
1st Camera Assistant: Ben Lindberg, 2nd Camera Assistants: Michael Fairbairn & Muhib Faris. Gaffer: Reme Durrenberger, BestBoy: Richard Hawkins, Location Sound Recordist; Nathan Codner
09:00
Boom Operator: Aron Dyer, Key Grip: Tony Bosch, Makeup and Hair Artist: Angela Brookes, Art Director: Isabelle Love-Dack
09:01
Standy Wardrobe:Alexandra Hickmott
09:02
Post Production Supervisor: Johon Frank, Colourist: Warren Lynch, Grading Facilites: IC Films, Sound Mixer: Brooke Trezise, Title Animation, Nicolo Blanchino