With Ben Whishaw as a drawcard, Beat is a melancholic and amusing short about a man who dances to the beat of his own drum, literally.
Whishaw skilfully conveys the fragility and loneliness of the young man whose erratic dancing to music only he can hear is as threatening to himself as he appears to be to others. Documenting a day wandering the streets of London, we are confronted by the man’s struggle with his compulsion and the attitudes of those that he encounters.
Shot on 16mm, Aneil Karia’s film initially presents itself as a music video without the soundtrack, but soon develops into a subtly layered piece that lends itself to a variety of interpretations. As the man dances through London, there is a nagging sense of isolation in the busy streets. His behaviour, which tests the conventional standards, is compelling but aside from his bizarre dance moves, what is perhaps most engrossing is the exploration of each passerby’s reaction.
