Fern

If you want a short black comedy about bereavement, you’ve come to the righ(ish) place.  Fern is a short movie about a recently widowed women who is not called Fern.  The title of the short is the name of the type of house plant our bereaved protagonist befriends in her hour of need.  This tatty, almost dead plant allows her to nurture something that she can, at least, help return to life.  If that sounds a little cosy, fear not.  The fern in question is very much the antagonist of the piece – but you will have to watch to find out more.

Written and directed by Johnny Kelly and commissioned by the UK TV Channel 4, Fern stars Monica Dolan.  Dolan is a very familiar face to British TV and theatre audiences, having starred in numerous shows and productions, including Talking Heads, Mr Bated vs The Post Office, Sherwood and Death in Paradise.

Those outside the UK may recognise her from two episodes of Black Mirror (series 5’s Smithereens, and series 6’s Loch Henry.  Dolan’s film credits include Kick-Ass 2, The Dig and This Time Next Year.

Fern was produced by Nexus Films.  Watch it below.