“Past the Second Stage is a deceptively simple tale about a young man grieving the loss of his brother. It takes a basic narrative premise, but slowly and effectively builds up a mass of complicated and powerful emotions. It’s a film as much about loss as it is about nostalgia—a yearning for a time when everything was simpler and happiness was effortless.

Past the Second Stage also manages to not wear out its welcome. Again, not to compare it to lesser films, but so many shorts about the loss of a family member feel interminable. Not the case here. Galloway wisely keeps the runtime short and the emotions high. I’m well aware this isn’t a flashy film—it’s not exactly the type of material destined to go viral. But, still, it’s worth acknowledging when a film gets human emotions so right. To use a common parlance, it’ll hit you in the feels.”

VIMEO SHORT OF THE WEEK REVIEW