Imagine it’s the last day on Earth. In 24 hours, life, as we know it, will cease to exist. How will you choose to spend this valuable time? This is the rhetorical question filmmaker Matthew Paris asks the audience in his latest short film The Things We Hold Sacred. The micro-budget indie packs a big punch by focusing on themes of gratitude and reflection. The film is available to stream on the Rumble platform.

A Day in the Life Before Impending Doom

In this observational slice-of-life drama, Jacob (Matthew Paris) lives out his final day on Earth modestly and simply. Jacob is a successful, single man but in the face of an impending natural disaster that threatens to destroy the planet (Melancholia style), none of that matters. Jacob reflects on what he sees as life’s simple pleasures, like long car drives and making a sandwich. Ironically, the awareness of his inevitable demise is what forces him to finally pay attention to these little things that matter most.

The Things We Hold Sacred interestingly feels inspired by the great silent movies of the 1920s. From the intentional film grain to the decision to exclusively use intertitles, or “title cards” with no voiceover, Paris makes it a point to amplify these old-school characteristics. This works for the majority of the film, however I wish the intertitles remained on screen for longer. They tend to pass too quickly and I found myself missing some of the text.

Takeaway

Written, directed, produced, and starring Matthew Paris, The Things We Hold Sacred is the definition of a one-man band. His thought-provoking film may be simple on the surface, but the message is rich for discussion and philosophical debate. He leaves audiences with a final quote, which serves as a nice reminder: “Never take your accomplishments or things for granted. Hold them sacred.”