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Ronan's Escape
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Wikipedia article
'Ronan's Escape' is a 2010 short film written and directed by A.J. Carter and produced by Martin Mhando. T
The film, set in the rural wheat belt of Western Australia, is about Ronan, a 14-year-old boy who has been bullied at school his whole life and decides to escape.
Critics have called this an accurate and controversial portrayal of life for bullying victims. The film is told in an exposition intensive format with very little use of dialogue. 'Ronan's Escape' presents arbitrary scenes rather than traditional storytelling.
Plot
At school during break, a bully named Ryan (played by Ryan Cammiande), kicks a ball at a young boy, Ronan (played by David Lazarus), sitting alone by himself causing him to fall down, and everyone laughs at him. While restraining himself afterwards he finds a wounded bird and feeds it. Later, during gym class, the teacher (played by Louie Van Praag) organizes a baton race. While preparing, another bully, named Colin (played by Matthew Henningham), sneakily unties the laces on Ronan's shoes so he trips just as he nears the finish line causing him to get jeered by his classmates including Sally (played by Ashleigh Zinko), a girl who actually trusted that Ronan could win for her team, but lost faith in him after Ryan gloats that he told her he was a loser.
On the bus ride home afterwards Ronan's bag is stolen by Justin (played by James Tayler), who tosses it about with everyone else. Ronan retrieves his bag and walks back to his seat amidst teasing from everyone. After this, he gets off the bus and walks up to a tree near his home with a tire swing on it, instead of going home. Eventually he finds the bird in his bag that has now been killed due to Justin tossing it around on the bus. Ronan buries it and then finds a piece of paper planted by the bully in his bag that says "Loser" on it, which is what everyone has been calling him. Later on his mother (played by Kristie Francis) has been talking to another woman but then starts searching for her son after being made aware that Ronan was not on the bus that passed by her house. She gets worried as she looks out into the trees where Ronan is. While the sun is setting it is shown that Ronan has hung himself off the tree with a skipping rope he took from gym class earlier that day.
Cast
*David Lazarus as Ronan, a boy who is bullied by everyone at school.
*Ashleigh Zinko as Sally, a girl who is actually friendly to Ronan
*Ryan Cammiande as Ryan, a teenager at Ronan's school.
*Louie Van Praag as Gymn Teacher, Ronan's school teacher.
*Matthew Hennighan as Colin, a bully
*Kirstie Chorley as Ronan's mother.
*James Tayler as Justin, a bully on Ronan's bus
*Mark Kont as Bus Driver, Ronan's school bus driver.
Release
'Ronan's Escape' premiered on 15 February 2010 at Hoyts Cinemas (Southlands, Western Australia). The film has since been screened in public film festivals and has also been used in schools as an educational tool, primarily in the United States, against school bullying.
Online reception and pop culture
The film has been shared more than 73 Million times over Facebook and YouTube. Footage from the film was used in the music video for Demi Lovato's song 'Believe in Me',
Awards and nominations
References
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