By Simon Thompson
Writer/director Lee Knight’s A Friend Of Dorothy is a funny, yet bittersweet short film that explores the theme of intergenerational friendship, without succumbing to the saccharine hackery that the vast majority of stories which are branded as ‘feel-good’ seem inevitably to do.
The film charts the seemingly unlikely new friendship of Dorothy ( Miriam Margoyles) a lonely elderly widow living out the last years of her life in a vast but empty house. When her neighbour, a teenage boy named JJ ( Alistair Nwachukwu), accidentally kicks his football into her back garden the two of them end up bonding, as they discover that despite their various differences they have far more in common than either one of them could have imagined.
As is to be expected from a BAFTA award winning performer and national treasure, Miriam Margolyes is perfectly cast in the role of Dorothy, an outspoken, brilliant intellect with an irreverent sense of humour. The on screen chemistry that Margolyes has with Nwachukwu, is fantastic to watch as the two actors play off each other’s strengths perfectly. Nwachukwu himself gives an understated performance as JJ, bringing the character’s shyness to the fore. The supporting cast also do a stellar job in their roles from fellow BAFTA winner and national treasure Stephen Fry as the executor of Dorothy’s will, to Oscar Lloyd as Dorothy’s repulsive grandson Scott.
Knight’s direction featuring naturalistic lighting and a warm colour palette neatly complements the tone of the story. Given that this is a movie about two people and as a direct result dialogue heavy, Knight uses an intimate close up style of filming which gives the movie a play – like aspect that befits what his script is trying to accomplish.
Overall, A Friend Of Dorothy is a humanistic celebration of life’s small kindnesses, and not writing the elderly off, undercut with humour and excellent acting across the board. Alistair Nwachukwu is a star in the making, and to play the part of The Watcher for a sentence, this short is going to be seen as a breakout for him in the next five to six years. If you want a short film that uses an ostensibly simple story to explore complex issues which I won’t delve into for the sake of spoilers, then A Friend Of Dorothy might just be what you’re looking for.
A Friend of Dorothy screened as part of HollyShorts Film Festival 2025.
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