It’s Up to You, Claire: A Duel of Desire and Dilemma
What would you sacrifice for a dream? Money? Morality? Perhaps even yourself? These are the questions pulsing beneath Tommy Harvey’s latest short film, It’s Up to You, Claire, a deceptively simple tale that flirts with parable while showcasing the raw power of performance.
The setup is elegantly straightforward: Claire, an aspiring artist, finds herself courted by two high-profile agents, each dangling the glittering carrot of fame and fortune—but each with strings attached. What begins as a casual conversation sharpens into an existential crossroad. Is ambition a ladder—or a leash?
Harvey, coming from Montreal’ as a young filmmaker, wisely leans into his actors’ abilities. The casting is spot-on, and the exchanges feel like a duel disguised as dialogue—an acting exercise elevated to cinematic tension. The sparseness of the story allows the performers to breathe, their pauses and glances speaking louder than the scripted words.
Still, the direction occasionally plays it safe. The lighting stays flat where shadows could have whispered menace; the soundscape leaves room for richer layers. At times, the environment feels more like a stage than a lived-in world. Yet perhaps this restraint is itself a statement: stripping away spectacle to force us to focus on the stakes, the choice, the impossible seduction of success.
What It’s ''Up to You, Claire'' ultimately delivers is a morality play for the Instagram age. Harvey frames a question that lingers long after the credits roll: When the door to your dreams finally opens, do you step through freely or are you already holding someone else’s contract in your hands? Eager to see what's next from our beloved AIMAFF Alumni.
