Deciphering Players by Ava Bounds

By Xinrui Ma

Players is a sci-fi short film directed and produced by Ava Bounds, a talented teenage director who creates absurdist plays and delves into profound human existence. This short film starring Bryan Bounds and Thea Procter tells the story of a special girl who possesses the manipulative power to control things in an idyllic village.

At first, I was not sure if I fully understood Ava’s intention, as this film seemed mysterious and nonsensical. However, it increased my curiosity, prompting me to ponder the meaning behind the scenes. It portrays a clash between humanity and futurism. As humanity is discovered by friendly locals, a happy dog, and an orderly life, something goes wrong when the little girl, holding a book titled “Inserting Microchips For Dummies,” uses a remote found inside a cigar box. 

The contrast between reality and the future made me wonder about the next scene and hinted that something significant must have happened. Indeed, a dead bird appeared on the screen. Despite the confusion, I believe the director intended to prompt her audience to rethink life, humanity, the future, and reality.

This film falls into the sci-fi category and can be described as “a deliberately perplexing film,” which deeply intrigues me as a viewer. I highly recommend it to my readers! 5 out of 5 stars.

Xinrui Ma is a recent graduate of New York University (NYU) with Cum Laude and University Honors, where she earned a B.S. in Media, Culture, and Communication.

Author: C. M. Rubin

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