GOING COUNTRY | Omeleto

A teenager follows a missing friend into a dangerous world.
GOING COUNTRY is used with permission from Philip Stevens. Learn more at inceptivefilms.com.
Aahna's friend Beth has been missing for some time, and Aahna can't just let go and move forward from the disappearance. It haunts her, even well after the search for Beth stalls.
Taking matters into her own hands, Aahna decides to follow Beth's trail into the isolated Lincolnshire fenlands. There, she discovers an underworld of drugs, trafficking and exploitation, full of menacing characters and forces at work that Aahna barely understands. She gets pulled in deeper, but each clue to Beth's fate may also entrap her.
Directed by Philip Stevens from a script written by Laura Turner, this short drama is a sinister descent into a netherworld, tucked away in the East Midlands fens. The storytelling takes advantage of this stark, isolated area of England to establish a dark, almost seedy underbelly of society, cut off from the rest of the world -- a place where anyone can, and does, disappear.
There's a sense of uneasy quiet that infuses the film from beginning to end, from the unvarnished naturalism of its cinematography to the slow burn of its storytelling. Carefully observant writing and editing capture Aahna's stream of thoughts as she looks for clues to Beth's existence and whereabouts. But the most compelling source of information is her interaction with Mattei, played by actor Julian Kostov with both wariness and a slight flicker of humanity.
Actor Duaa Karim endows Aahna with a watchful intelligence and enduring loyalty to her friend that drives her to pursue her friend and go about her "investigation." But ultimately, she's still a young girl in a difficult, troubled realm. There is the abuse of bodies through drugs and exploitation, but moreover, there's a sense of the expendability of human life. This nihilism seems into the world of the film, giving it a sense of rotting torpor -- and threatening to envelop Aahna herself.
GOING COUNTRY has all the elements of a taut crime thriller, from its anxious electronic score to its evocation of a rich, hidden underworld. Its intrigue sparks plenty of questions about the background of the characters and stories that can expand into a longer feature. But like a solid character drama, it is more concerned with the inner experience of its main character. With its unwavering focus on Aahna, it is not a conventional thriller at all, but a study of a young woman's fundamental vulnerability in a milieu that sees her as just another commodity to exploit. The narrative builds up not to a shock-and-awe orchestrated by the tight choreography of plot and suspense, but a slow dawning of moral horror. The few signs of humanity may save Aahna, but any hope otherwise is fragile.

[@johntirado-glover3574]

The lead actress was amazing.Almost no dialog, but her face told a story. Another gem from Omeleto.

[@orphanoforbit7588]

She`s the girl that stars in Man Like Mobeen.

[@Vivalarosa45]

Whoever the director is, please make a part 2 and 3. I want to see what happens next and maybe a backstory on how Beth ended up in a drug house.

[@KatyaStrigina]

Several times I tried to save my friend from living in a tunnel and going to crack house. It just broke my heart. Not that she didn't want to break that cycle.. but she couldn't leave.. I couldn't jeopardize my family anymore. I found her.. abandoned and not breathing one day. This short made me cry.

[@MisterG2323]

Yep, this one demands expansion. Very well done, top-rank filmmaking. Major props all around!

[@anthonyislas5414]

If you have a feature length version of this short, please make it happen. Brilliant film so far.

[@CAMBY608]

wow! i hope the friend learned a lesson and “Won’t” be there next week…no matter what she has to do…seemed like her handler somewhat cared for her (at least as much as someone in that horrible position could), and maybe both of them could get out of that “business”…

[@resolecca]

She needs to come back next week with the police

[@CAMBY608]

@@resolecca - they either know better vot that person will be moved on…i think her friend guy even said that..it’s sad!!

[@whoathatsanicememe3093]

Can you please tell the people who make these films to include closed captioning... I get that it helps the plot to have quiet, moody dialogue but for those of us who are deaf... and there are quite a lot of us, we can't watch what we can't hear. Thanks.

[@lucyladyandhusband]

Ditto ‼️

[@ibz3474]

Seems like a personal problem

[@mufferducker822]

I wish there were subtitles. As a non native english speaker it was really hard to understand anything with their accent :D

[@ImnotChuck.]

As a non-Brit, I heard/understood less than half the dialog. CC's would have been great; I might have understood the story.

[@RebeccaLynnMusic]

I use closed captioning most of the time. My uncle got me doing it. I don't understand why some videos don't have that feature.

[@crillyboy19]

This is the harsh & brutal reality of human trafficking, it can happen to anyone

[@hcutter]

She either tells the cops or the next time brings a gun!!

[@HollyTree_]

Excellent! One of the best shorts that I’ve watched. If only this was a film - or perhaps, a part 2?

[@jshelton100]

I hope she gets her friend back.

[@bradgraff551]

Wow! Good one. I wonder if we get to see part 2?? I kind of hope not because that means she went back the next week.

[@girligirlish1]

i need moreee, i want this as full length film

[@telayajackson2.023]

Human trafficking is a serious epidemic. Stay safe

[@gemstar7286]

FACTS.

[@GyrlBlaque]

This should only happen in the movies

[@jsalsman]

Spectacular filmmaking, absolutely first-rate!

[@aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa333]

This can't be it, I need more.

[@glennparker5516]

Great job cast and crew. Well done. Very convincing. Although it sucks to know this is based on many true stories. Follow perhaps?

[@IlyaNLeo]

10:35 I'm shocked he trusted her 2 walk off by herself that's every1s excuse the LOO lmao

[@meka1896]

Very compelling!

[@colors6247]

Damn! Amazing work!

[@christinamcvaugh7958]

Where did she THINK she was going?

[@ikituipulotu9652]

Hold up where’s my baby going

[@AngelOvDeath4014]

Dream signatures night gains actually fill my shirt

[@jxf144]

i don't understand this one at all.

[@zyrosqrd2552]

To appreciate this film, focus less on "getting it". Watch the character that the actor creates, her interactions with her friend, driver and the criminals, the cinematography, in creating this glimpse into this world. It may not be to your taste; some people prefer films that spoonfeed the audience. The youtube description can fill in plot for you, so you don't have to try to figure it out.

[@Coast2CoastTuber]

@@zyrosqrd2552 you don’t think that was a bit condescending?

[@lyricberlin]

@@zyrosqrd2552 wow you really came off as a pathetic ass, was that what you meant?

[@ImnotChuck.]

@@zyrosqrd2552 I don't agree. If a viewer can't "get it" by watching it, it's incomplete.

[@mae8646]

Two words. Human trafficking

[@tanyahart2396]

Movie please 🥺

[@resolecca]

Ikr

[@_ru4at_429]

Omg Duaa u scared mehhhh😍

[@emergentform1188]

Intense. Bravo!

[@Dwayne3007]

It's Brendan!!!

[@4Alcyone.Q86]

అమ్మాయి చాలా బాగుంది

[@mohammedhosain6605]

Is the main character from Man Like Mobeen?

[@khireesteelemoore1183]

Yes.

[@_ru4at_429]

Aqsa😂

[@srinidhi2452]

The music

[@JULIASMITH-eg9kp]

❤❤❤❤

[@devasadhvi]

What about the bracelet?

[@marriedmomofone]

I think the bracelet the young girl was wearing matched the bracelet on the creepy guys keychain. Which he probably took from the girl on the bed. So she took it off so he wouldn't notice.

[@umargul3224]

issy loccos ex wife lol shjjj

[@elizabethCorkins83]

Wow I'm here early...

[@mustafagak2852]

Firsttt... Now wheres my cookie

[@gabe2448]

Third. Would you mind sharing?

[@Alwaysgrim]

🍪

[@fishpest2039]

In the cookie jar, top right shelf...

[@kailerpetersen6404]

@@gabe2448 nah bro you get a wafer

[@katinaegyptwalker6256]

Macadamians or chocolate chip 🤪🤣

[@seph4667]

First.

[@ghostccentral7157]

Duas special man i love this girl