Alleviate (2023), A Tragic & Poignant Short Film by Daniel Keeble

Grief is universal. Every single one of us has suffered the loss of a loved one — or will suffer it in the future. Despite its pervasiveness, grief is a complex emotion, one that’s not always easy to explain coherently. French philosopher and author Albert Camus began his 1976 essay, Losing a Loved One, “Losing a loved one, uncertainty about what we are, these are deprivations that give rise to our worst suffering.” It is this experience of loss and suffering that drives the narrative in writer/director Daniel Keeble’s short film, Alleviate (2023), an ARK Pictures production. However, it is the leading man, Darren Kent, who brings all of that pain to life. 

Few would describe me as soft-hearted; I prefer to look at things through a clinical, analytical, lens. I knew going into the film that Darren Kent had passed at the age of 36, shortly after he and Keeble wrapped filming in June of 2023. Though Kent’s resumé includes such big-hitters as Game of Thrones and Mirrors (2008), I was unfamiliar with his work, and perhaps more importantly, his appearance. You see, Darren Kent suffered from various ailments, including osteoporosis, which gave him a dangerously thin frame and limited mobility, as well as a skin condition that, at first glance, made me think that he might have been the victim of a devastating fire. 

It may sound crass or cruel to describe Darren Kent’s appearance in this way, but as a former casting director, I can say with absolute certainty that his appearance helped get him through the door for many of his biggest roles. However, after watching Kent in Alleviate, I can confirm that he was far more than a unique-looking man. He was an exceptionally talented actor, whose physical debilitations and untimely death only made his performance that much more heart-wrenching. 

I focus much of my attention on Kent because, to a certain degree, he is this film. Yes, Keeble and the rest of the crew do an excellent job writing, framing, and lighting Darren Kent’s character, Micheal, but ultimately, Kent is the one who makes the film something so special. Unlike Keeble’s previous work, VIA[DOLO] (2021), Alleviate has a much clearer message, even if it takes a little while to put the pieces together. That said, it might be that Alleviate only feels clearer because grief is so relatable. 

The film takes place almost entirely in Michael’s home, where he speaks about the great pain and loss he feels at the death of a loved one. He seems to answer questions that have not been asked, which leaves the viewer in the dark for a while. Is Michael speaking to voices in his head? Is he speaking to the camera? Are we, as viewers and unwanted guests in his home, pestering Micheal with painful memories? 

After a few minutes, the initial conversations are replayed, so to speak, revealing that Micheal is indeed speaking to himself — but which “himself” that is remains a mystery. At times, it seems that Michael is speaking to his own conscience, or perhaps a future version of himself, or a version of himself from an alternate reality. What is clear is that Micheal has only himself to uncover the root of his pain and the feelings of guilt he clings to. 

I will say that the ending brings a sense of closure that, though not entirely necessary, does give an otherwise depressing narrative a sense of hope. But, thanks in large part to Kent’s unforgettable performance, we must suffer along with him. We watch his body, seemingly wracked with scars and pain, heave as he takes each breath and weeps for what was taken from him. His physical pain is only surpassed by his emotional pain, and the feeling that no matter what he does, he’ll never return to a life without that emptiness, or as Camus may have put it, that deprivation. 

Camus’s belief in the absurdity of “meaning” is particularly apropos for a critical analysis of Alleviate, especially knowing Darren Kent would not survive to see his own performance. Camus had a firm grasp of grief and how we torture ourselves with it, churning ourselves up about things over which we often have no control. “It is not easy to believe that without providence to do the bookkeeping of his pain, self-punishing man furnishes his own despair,” Camus wrote, foretelling Michael’s story of self-blame and self-abuse, actions that allow him to feel the loss to its fullest. 

Alleviate (2023) packs a lot of emotional weight into a 14-minute runtime. Daniel Keeble has once again found a way to combine the absurd, the tragic, and the sublime into something altogether unique. Most importantly, Alleviate stands as a beautiful dedication to the life and work of Darren Kent, a man who must have been no stranger to suffering, and whose skills as an actor will never be forgotten. 

Alleviate (2023) Movie Rating: ★★★★ out of 5

If you’d like to keep up with Daniel Keeble’s work, you can follow him on Instagram. Alleviate will make its film festival debut in May 2024, and will soon be available to stream online. This review contains affiliate links. For more film reviews like this one, be sure to check out the Philosophy in Film homepage!