SPOILER ALRET: The following blog post contains spoilers for the short film Rolex. Watch it here before you read on!
This Ugandan short film about a gang of thugs in desperate need of cash is a compelling addition to the growing wealth of Ugandan Cinema. The acting, the pacing and the suspense are all executed really well, in under 15 minutes no less. But perhaps the most appealing thing to me is the use of basic storytelling skills used to create an engaging, easy-to-follow narrative.
Foreshadowing
A good screenplay understands how to use the language of set-ups and pay-offs to build the audience's expectations and deliver on them. It's all about rhythm-- knowing which beat takes the set-up and which one pays it off. If you plant information you want your audience to know too late, they'll likely end up feeling disoriented or unbothered when the pay-off finally comes through. Benon Mugumbya and Hosea Jemba, the writers of Rolex, clearly understood this and used it to their advantage.
Some of the very first shots are of a rolex vendor preparing a rolex. Just by showing this, we already know that the 'rolex' in question isn't in fact the jewelry brand but the iconic Ugandan street food. We also know that rolex has some deeper meaning for it to be featured so prominently within the first few minutes. As the story picks up, we learn that the gang leader loves rolex so much that one of the gang members warns him that rolex could end up killing him one day if he's not careful. From this line, it's very obvious that something bad is going to happen to the gang leader later on. However, on a more subtle note, the writers signal to the audience the deeper meaning of the rolex.
Of course the symbolism behind the rolex is entirely up to individual interpretation, but what the writers really want you to understand are the themes the rolex represents.
Symbols and Themes
Symbols are a tool often used to convey the story's theme(s) to the audience. In longer stories they usually appear more than once to signify their relevance to the audience. A good example of this would be the heart-shaped herb in Marvel's Black Panther. Director Ryan Coogler kept on emphasizing the herb's presence early on in the film since it was the source of protagonist T'challa's powers. Seeing Killmonger, the film's antagonist, burn the garden of heart-shaped herbs towards the film's climax was a powerful moment that struck fear and uncertainty in the audience's hearts. The herb itself was a representation of tradition, but seeing the symbol destroyed in this way revealed one of the larger themes at play: breaking tradition.
In Rolex, the rolex is a symbol that represents greed. When the gang leader dies after eating the poisoned rolex, the writers effectively communicate to the audience the theme of the story: the consequences of greed. In a manner that is reminiscent of traditional Baganda folktales, Rolex leaves the audience with a message that speaks to moral behavior. You can be greedy if you want to be, but know that there will be consequences for your greediness.
Final Thoughts: Character Development
I will end by highlighting one storytelling technique that really contributed to my liking of this film. When it comes to stories, I mostly consume them with the notion of 'character' in mind. If a story has really strong characters, it's easier for me to follow along and be engaged with the narrative. Rolex delivers on this front as well. I may know any of the gang's names but I don't need to. I know there's a leader and a group of followers. I know that they must be desperate for them to be willing to murder and steal from a family for cash. If not desperate then, as it turns out, greedy.
Just as symbols convey themes to the audience, characters can also achieve the same effect. In fact, it's through character that we understand theme. The rolex alone wouldn't have meant anything if the gang leader had not eaten it. Just as his actions drove the action of the story, they also helped realize the theme the writers were trying to communicate to the audience. For me, that is masterful storytelling right there-- to be able to apply basic storytelling skills and use them in a creative way to tell an original story. 5/5!
Please share any questions, comments, concerns and/or suggestions here! I'd love to hear what you all think about this film.
A previous version of this post contained a broken link which has now been fixed effective 1/24/2024.
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