The Tragedy of Father Cable

Bram West has long been on the receiving end of his father's alcohol-fueled tirades and abusive behaviour. He seeks solace through the realm of myths and fantasy, conjuring narratives revolving around the enigmatic figure, 'Father Cable'. This fantastical escape, however, can only shield him for so long from the grim realities lurking just beyond the confines of his milieu. The time comes when stories no longer provide the respite they once did.

  • Thomas Moore
    Director
  • Thomas Moore
    Writer
  • Alison Foyle
    Producer
  • Thomas Moore
    Producer
  • Harry Shepherd
    Key Cast
    "Bram West"
  • Alison Foyle
    Key Cast
    "The Illusion"
  • Philip Andrew
    Key Cast
    "Stepfather"
  • Zoe Carroll
    Key Cast
    "Stepmother"
  • Thomas Moore
    Editor
  • Timothy Wood
    Colourist
  • Timothy Wood
    Director of Photography
  • Timothy Wood
    Camera Operator
  • Daya Dodds
    Camera Operator
  • Erik Moore
    Camera Operator
  • Erik Moore
    Sound Design
  • Erik Moore
    Music
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Fantasy, Mystery
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 20, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    500 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Big Creative Education
  • The Soho London Independent Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    November 20, 2020
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Thomas Moore

Thomas Moore, a British artist and producer, is currently based in the cultural hub of London where he is in academic pursuit of a Bachelor's degree in Sound Arts from the University of the Arts London. His practice encompasses short fiction and documentary filmmaking, video art installations, and experimental music production.

Moore's works have received international attention, being showcased at The Soho London Independent Film Festival and the Galerie Beauté Du Matin Calme in Paris. His thematic explorations span the spectrum from magic realism to domestic drama, with a distinctive emphasis on the quotidian. Through experiential and observational narratives, Moore crafts his characters into authentic situations, subsequently distorting their fictional realities and disentangling them from the objective world. Notable amongst the short fiction works he's written are pieces like "Jennifer Through The Looking Glass," "The Tragedy of Father Cable," "After All," and "The Harryian Theory."

In a collaborative endeavour, Moore is currently co-producing and penning short films with his creative comrade, Chongyan Liu. He is also actively involved in cultivating film festival strategies for emerging filmmakers and video artists who seek assistance with the diffusion of their works. On his creative horizon is an upcoming installation named "A View from a Moving Window," an allegorical meditation on the subject of mortality.

Thomas' approach is never solely concerned with a grand narrative. Instead, he chooses to spotlight the intricate details within each mise-en-scène, firmly believing that these subtle elements create the most significant resonance with an audience. His practice is significantly influenced by the concept of The Cinephiliac Moment: these are ephemeral, yet "privileged" instances in cinema that elicit a strong emotional response, regardless of their scale or intended significance.

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Director Statement

The Tragedy of Father Cable begins with an allegory, inspired in part by the Greek play "Oedipus Rex". The film's protagonist (Bram West) delivers a weekly show to his small legion of YouTube followers, to which he tells them tales of a fantastical character he's invented called "Father Cable." He sits in front of a camera and describes to his audience the mythologies behind this fictitious persona and the slow process of bringing it to life – by creating a physical manifestation of Father Cable. His escape into the subconscious realm has primarily been caused by his alcoholic stepfather, who, after having finished one of his drunken tirades, has the habit of physically assaulting Bram. All of this is exacerbated by the Father's proclivity to womanise – and after having finished with the women he courts – releases any harboured, leftover resentment onto Bram.

Not unlike other works of magical realism, the film combines reality and fantasy; making sense of the darker side of human nature through the embrace of the subconscious mind. Bram escapes his meagre existence through illusions – whether that be the imaginary woman who appears before him from time to time or through the godlike worship of a being he himself has conjured up. Perhaps a kind of quasi-father figure who he can admire. Bram reaches an inevitable cul-de-sac when his fantasies can no longer sustain him; his Father's beatings persist despite his attempts to reimagine reality. The imaginary woman who comforts him is nothing more than a figment of his imagination and cannot provide any long-standing catharsis. All of this leads to Bram performing a ritual ceremony, in which a decision-making board will determine the path he must follow.

This is a film steeped in ambiguity: the kind that may alienate some and simply confuse others. However, I believe that once you can get past this, your own interpretations will be infinitely more satisfying than anything I could try to explain. After all, as David Lynch once said: "I don't know why people expect art to make sense. They accept the fact that life doesn't make sense."