Sister Wives: Short Film Review. By Callum Ward.

Over the weekend I had the chance to watch the award-winning short film, Sister Wives. The film is written and directed by Louisa Connolly-Burnham, who also stars in the short alongside BAFTA-winner Mia McKenna-Bruce and Michael Fox in the tale of an orthodox Mormon relationship in which two sister wives married to the same man start to develop feelings for one another.

There is a lot to enjoy about Connolly-Burnham’s melancholic and layered tale of forbidden and unexpected love, with her performance, in particular, being one of the highlights for me. Connolly-Burnham’s take on Kaidence is nuanced and complex as she battles through her conflicting feelings of initial animosity and even pity towards her new sister wife that transforms into arousal and even lust as the film progresses.

McKenna-Bruce’s performance as Galilee also deserves a mention, especially as the budding romance that progresses between the pair begins to heat up. The two have great chemistry and portray the build-up of emotions and tension that come from living in such an enclosed and orthodox environment.

Tension is one of the main themes throughout the film, whether it be the tension between Kaidence and Jeremiah at her unhappiness with their new marital set-up or the burgeoning sexual tension between the two wives as things progress. This tension is portrayed exceptionally well, thanks to Connolly-Burnham’s stellar direction as well as some incredible sound editing – often using the absence of any score to let the emotions conveyed from each scene sit with the audience in what makes for a truly gripping viewing.

The only slight negative I have with the film is the pacing as the chemistry between the two women develops. The story can often feel rushed at times, with the progression of the relationship between Kaidence and Galilee occasionally feeling slightly unearned and the emotional impact lessened. Despite this, the aforementioned strong performances and chemistry between Connolly-Burnham and McKenna-Bruce more than atone for this.

All in all, Sister Wives is an impressive showing from the supremely talented Connolly-Burnham that I would absolutely recommend people watch for themselves, and I look forward to seeing how her career continues to progress.

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