Charlie McDonnell - Our Brother Review

Hey guys!

Quite a few weeks back now, Charlie McDonnell (aka Charlieissocoollike) released his new short film series named 'Our Brother'. I feel like I can't share what it's about without injecting my views about it so here goes!

The two parter is about two siblings who are struggling to cope with the death of their brother after the films start with a video clip of them proclaiming to their brother, who was clearly suffering from some sort of chronic illness, that he was finally coming home. From what Charlie had said about the series before it went live, it was supposed to be quite a teary series and though it was definitely sad, I wouldn't say I was bawling though admittedly, though I cry when things get emotional, I certainly wouldn't have bucketed all the way through.

Despite this initial misconception, the series itself was very, very good and the one thing I loved about it was the fact that it was so completely realistic. It didn't feel like an ideal situation, it felt really organic and that's what I feel Charlie has really done justice too. The elder brother of the two siblings who are left is unwilling to admit how much he misses his brother and the psychological turmoil that he's facing and this can make him appear quite cynical and unsympathetic towards his sister who constantly asks him whether he's ready to talk yet, to which he stoically replies 'I'm not ready yet.'

It's a beautiful series because of the way that their relationship works and just how simply everything works out and how it makes sense. It doesn't feel far-fetched and that's what makes this film series work so well.

I hope that you guys can appreciate this post and go on and watch the first one of the two here and the second here. All of Charlie's videos are amazing so check his channel out here.

I hope that you guys enjoyed this post and as always, I'd love to hear your thoughts! I hope to speak to you soon, take care of yourselves!

'Stand Up Straight' - Thoughts Provoked by Charlie

Hey guys!

Some time in the past week, Charlie McDonnell (aka charlieissocoollike on YouTube) released a video called 'Stand Up Straight' which I loved because of the way he talked about his thoughts. He talked about how being told to straighten up his back and not slouch by his Mum, which he did, admittedly ten years later, actually was helping him feel more confident as well as buying more shoes that didn't get holes in them in the same place in every pair that he'd bought ever since he realised how quickly he could take them on and off. In essence, it was a video about change.

His amazing point in this video was that if his 16 year old self could see him actually falling towards fashion and doing what his mum said rather than letting his inner grungy personality show through his slouch, he would've flipped and probably have turned to wearing a bin bag. The point is, we all change and despite the fact it feels like what we think now is what we'll always think, that's definitely not necessarily true.

He challenges you and I in turn, challenge you, to write down something that you don't ever think you'll change thinking and put it in a safe place. Then look back at it in five years or ten years and see if you've changed. Chances are you, will have done and it's a part of life that we can't stop or anything, but it's often change that causes us the most discomfort because we always want things to stay the same because we're not prepared to lose the happiness that we've gained from the routine of how things have been for us.

I personally do feel this way sometimes but I think it's very important for all of us to be able to embrace change so that we can find a new way to be happy again rather than clinging to the old way because chances are it's probably not going to happen again and may not even have been as good as you remember it now.

I hope that you guys enjoyed this post! As always, leave your thoughts in the comments below and I will speak to you soon!