If our lives are defined by what we do, what happens when “what we do” is no longer feasible day in and day out? That might seem like a foreboding way to start a short film analysis, but in LOOMS, a poetic and beautifully shot dramatic short from the Funk Brothers, it’s the central question that drives forth the action. This is a story of a man who knows only one thing—his life on the farm. And, well, as he ages, he’s losing a grasp on the very thing that makes him feel whole.

To be sure, LOOMS isn’t a plot heavy movie—rather it’s a narrative defined by its singular concept, dependent on both its strong character and mood to push it to greatness. As such, this is a film that won’t appeal to a lot of people—it’s methodically paced. But, the stark, unconventionally beautiful visuals are enough to make-up for the narrative shortcomings. This is stellar filmmaking of a setting that is rarely captured on camera.  Cold, terse, but also, oddly serene—like a visit to the beach during the dead of winter.

The Funk Brothers, a commercial directing trio based in both Canada and the US, have a uniquely personal connection to the material. The film was shot during a sub-zero winter on their family’s century-old farmstead in Osage, Iowa. Passed down through four generations, the farm is a dynasty in and of itself. Their uncle, Tracy Funk, still works on the farm, and may just be the last in their family’s line to do so. In that sense, LOOMS is a love-letter to a noble, dying profession. Whereas America was once a nation comprised of farmers,  the romantic idea of simple folk living off the fat of the land is but a fading memory. Now, the closest your average person gets to farming is via stock imagery pasted on labels at the local grocery store. In that sense, this film expertly captures a dichotomy of emotion—the longing for a nostalgic past, while simultaneously dealing with the realities of the grim future.

The film was made possible due to the Panavision New Filmmaker Program, which enabled the Funk Brothers to shoot on 35mm. The resulting image is textured and sublime. Without running to a thesaurus to suss out fancy adjectives, suffice it to say that LOOMS looks really, really good.

Keep up to date with the rest of the work from this talented brother team of directors on their website: www.funkbros.com.