Watch: ‘We Used to Own Houses’ Short – About Landlords & Tenants
by Alex Billington
August 12, 2024
Source: Vimeo
“I have a feeling that it’s falling apart at the seams… And the people in the gutters recognize their means.” This striking short film is worth just 7 minutes of your time. We Used to Own Houses is a mesmerizing short film made by an Australian filmmaker named David Robinson-Smith. A landlord is confronted by one of the many tenants he evicted in this unsettling film which first premiered at the 2023 Melbourne Film Fest last year. Thom, a determined renter, confronts Ben, a burdened landlord. Within the confines of their meeting, cryptic verses echo, unraveling the hidden truths of a broken system. As walls crumble and secrets are laid bare, a haunting truth emerges, shattering the illusions of home. In this unsettling invasion, power shifts and the consequences of greed unfold. Starring Anthony Phelan, Thom Green, Joshua Mehmet, Laneikka Denne, and Frazer Bull-Clark as the floating man. This is remarkably powerful – great work.
Thanks to Vimeo Staff Picks for the tip on this short film / music video debuting. Here’s the quick intro via Vimeo: “After breaking into his landlord’s home, a mysterious renter forces him to read a cryptic poem that unravels the landlord’s involvement in a exploitative system of profit and power.” We Used to Own Houses Short is a short film written and directed by Australian filmmaker David Robinson-Smith based in NSW – you can see more of his work on Vimeo or visit his official website or also on IG @davidrobinsonsmith. Produced by Chloe Brennan. Made by Good Oil Films. Executive produced by Sam Long and Juliet Bishop. With cinematography by Jaclyn Paterson, and a score by Wolf & Cub. This initially premiered at the 2023 Melbourne Film Festival and at SXSW Sydney 2023, and it recently won Best Short Film at CICLOPE Asia 2024. For more info on the film, visit David’s site or Vimeo. To discover more shorts, click here. Thoughts?