12 minutes and 14 seconds of a beautiful cinematic film. Directed by Charlotte Peters and produced by Olivia Maiden, this short is centred on grief and redefining life.

Eva, after the death of her parents, now has to live with her estranged uncle — her father’s brother. The distance between the two feels insurmountable. However, the uncle tries his best to introduce her to Jewish rituals. A kite becomes the bridge that begins to rebuild a family facing loss. Eva unexpectedly makes a friend, Sam (Charlie Bishop), who gives her an idea: using a kite to send a message. She shares this with her uncle, beginning a new understanding between them.

Set in Birmingham, 1979, David (Ben Caplan) and Eva (Talia Sokal) represent holding on and letting go. It shows how life continues even when we are still learning to live with loss. No matter what, we realize that life doesn’t wait for us to understand the reasons it’s turning the way it is. It also offers a new perspective on British Jewish life — one the writer and director wished to portray. Faith and tradition carry the film, giving both characters a sense of normalcy.

This film depicts childhood loss through cinematic frames, giving viewers room to feel the pain of both characters.

In twelve minutes, To Fly or Float captures the fragile hope we hold during grief. It’s a tender reminder that even in loss, there are moments that lift us.