ROCKET FUEL | Omeleto

Three young kids collect bottles and cans to cash in for ice cream.
ROCKET FUEL is used with permission from Jessie Posthumus. Learn more at jessieposthumus.com.
On a hot July day, 12-year-old Nora and her two younger siblings, Lizzie and E.J., are cleaning up the litter in their yard and house. Their parents, who are nowhere to be found, threw a party the night before, and the place is trashed.
The trio collects the empty cans and bottles, piling them into an old wagon nicknamed “The Rocket." Together, they set off to cash in their empties for money to buy some ice cream. As the oldest, Nora is in charge, and she shepherds her younger brother and sister through their sleepy small town. But the small trip turns into an altogether different kind of journey when they encounter unexpected obstacles on their regular route.
Directed and written by Jessie Posthumus, this down-to-earth yet lyrical short drama functions much like a snapshot in the life of three close-knit siblings, one where the small, precisely-observed details speak volumes about their lives and relationships together. The narrative scale is small, capturing an errand one morning during the summer. The visuals are naturalistic, but their simplicity belies a keen sense of observation and sensitivity. What emerges is a touching yet melancholic portrait of three children who only have one another as they fend for themselves in a world that is increasingly disquieting in ways large and small.
Told with storytelling that feels as languid as a hot summer day in July, the narrative tenderly captures the busy efforts of Nora and her siblings to clean up and then bring the empty cans and bottles to recycling for money. What's clear as they proceed on their journey is how Nora is like a second mother to them; her demeanor is more weighed down, and she never has the carefree aspect that E.J. and Lizzie do. Actor Abbey Jean Cowan conveys the wear and tear on a young adolescent who realizes their caretakers have failed in their obligations and is trying to protect their siblings from that truth for as long as possible. Her efforts emerge as increasingly monumental, especially when even moments of innocence and fun are never truly free.
Pared-down, tenderhearted and yet tough in not shying away from difficult truths, the gifts of ROCKET FUEL are those of a gentle, affectionate sense of observation, and a nonjudgmental, matter-of-fact perspective that endows these characters with a full sense of life, even in the film's short runtime. We can sense the small sadnesses and tragedies that exist outside the narrative's frame for these three siblings, from the dilapidation of the yard to their wary distrust of adults, including their parents. But we also see their unquenchable innocence as children, the way they find fun even in the simplest of situations and the love and trust they have in one another -- even if they've learned to not quite trust the larger world around them.

[@millennialodyssey5956]

I remember cousins doing that when I was a kid collecting cans. I also sadly remember not wanting to go home everyday because of growing up abused. Some of my fondest memories were just hanging around town going from house to house with my friends trying to come up with a few quarters to get a popsicle or some gum. We could never afford ice cream. I would find anything to do just to stay out of that house until dark.

[@ALX65]

😢

[@brianawhittaker8152]

I'm glad you're not that in that situation anymore. How are you doing with everything now looking back on that?

[@eugenetswong]

Thank you for sharing!

[@justingary5322]

WOW

[@sticksbass]

sad, i should b grateful i didnt have it that bad. i didnt like school though bc of all the cruel kids and careless teachers and i didnt do well in the public school system..

[@firefury6053]

The tight sibling bonds are a treasure. They have one another to rely on. Despite the awful circumstances, this was a well written story. The 3 kids did an outstanding job.

[@antonboludo8886]

Agreed.

[@eugenetswong]

I don't think that the boy was a sibling, but either way, it was good.

[@martininevada1581]

Eugene it don’t matter if the boy wasn’t a sibling & the girls referred to him as brother.

[@antonboludo8886]

Maybe he was adopted. Either way he is family. @@martininevada1581

[@justingary5322]

Exactly 💯

[@TheWhore2culture]

Like a Raymond Carver story,nothing really happens, but,we empathise, commiserate & fill in the 'blanks' with our own experiences. An awesome short, amplified by stellar performances by the three young actors. Kudos to everyone involved⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@quicksilver462]

Or lke a Seinfeld episode, you know, the "Show about nothing".

[@mikelopez6928]

It's amazing how this story say nothing about abuse but says everything about it at the same time.

[@gemstar7286]

It isn't just stranger danger though, even people that children know....can still be horrible & bad, more adults should teach kids don't get in the car with anyone,not even your neighbour or parents friends etc.

[@user-fy7ru4ii1i]

Dude in the truck pulls up and hands them some money. "Kids, I've been looking for you all afternoon. I got your bottles and cans to the store for you. Here's your money" - Faith in humanity partially restored.

[@jamespaul2587]

Yes, but sadly, he probably had other intentions with the young children

[@hollyperrin7353]

@@jamespaul2587I’m not sure. This story took me back to my childhood. My siblings and I would go out, there were usually five or six of us. We would walk along the tracks out of the woods and find that spot where the teenagers in the woods would drink in the underpass. After that cache we would go along the road the two miles up to the store. Sometimes people would stop and offer us a ride. We always refused out of fear. One time, an elderly couple doubled back to insist, but we still refused and were convinced that they were kidnappers. Now, I think that they were probably just worried about us.

[@justingary5322]

That would've been awesome 😎

[@FIONA21ful]

Beautifully nostalgic, the magic of youth & ride or die siblings. This is gently profound.

[@drmoynihan]

So many memories. I did trust adults, probably because I felt and was loved by my Mom & Dad. But I was surprised by some who were afraid and did not trust their parents. I am glad and relieved this ended on sibling love and trust.

[@SeansMusicVault]

Wow. An absolute beauty, this. Many thanks for such a hard-hitting and yet tender story. 💛

[@conniehanses]

I loved this, thank you for that second of remembering just being a kid. 💙🌎

[@rgarlinyc]

Sweet and in places sinister story. Something inexplicably sad through it all too. Nevertheless beautifully written, directed, filmed and acted. 👏🏻,

[@metermorphose]

What a beautiful shortfilm showing the bond of children. It shows children are not ready to take responsibility. As soon as they get into childish flow, life hits hard. That's not the way it should be. So sad having to live with lies and uncertainty. Well done all!

[@sticksbass]

adorable.

[@nancypettinicchio8401]

So so beautiful. Congrats to the wonderful cast and crew. One of my favourite shorts ever

[@jamespaul2587]

Its sad to think that a 12 year old girl can't trust her mom and bf, and none of the kids wants to go home

[@noi000]

Nice sibling relationships, such a cute little girl, but overall was sad to me, them digging through garbage for a few cents, losing that, and especially them not wanting to go home.

[@justingary5322]

Childhood siblings protecting each other from abusive adults

[@ralphx3c666]

That's the childhood everyone needs, sadly didn't get the chance to have one like that.

[@Thefredzilla]

That childhood isn’t a great one. Someone tried to abduct the girls, they don’t trust their mom and her boyfriend, they don’t want to go back home at all. It’s not safe.

[@ralphx3c666]

@@Thefredzilla Yeah that's the another side of the story, still the bigger part it's focused on is beautiful.

[@drmoynihan]

And they were loved and kept safe by one another.

[@ralphx3c666]

@@drmoynihan Yeah, that's the point

[@jamespaul2587]

​@drmoynihan yes, but safe for how long with a mother and bf that can't be trusted?

[@alrey3967]

Super cute nice and heart plucking.

[@antonboludo8886]

I felt it was Canadian, and I was right 🙂.

[@samhardy2038]

A BIG LIKE!

[@lesleycarney8868]

Beautiful and not a computer game in sight loll one thing i didn't like was the rabbit wasn't in the credits.

[@homayounsolaimani8856]

Growing up with hardship, home isn’t a place to call home and go to as long as it can be afforded/avoided, mistrust of others, learning to be self reliant and yet despite all the ugliness around, managing to enjoying a moment that will pass by quickly and yet seizing it….. claiming it for no matter how fast is going to pass by because what’s awaiting isn’t worth dealing with….. an ugly truth that some of us adults spoil life. Such a sincere and honest short Thanks for sharing it.

[@Desire123ification]

Beautiful Story ✨

[@salvatorefolisi3102]

Excellent movie that made me feel like i was a kid again ...

[@iladshyanchess]

This feels wholesome for some reason.

[@BTURNER1961]

Its the bonding in these experiences which this vignette showcases, which represents the real 'rocket fuel' for these kids lives, not the money provided by the cans. These relationships can transport them out of the danger and poverty surrounding them. Just beautiful.

[@justingary5322]

Little girl is too funny and cute saying "I can fit " at 2:17-2:18 😂 🥰

[@patrickdrury1480]

This was really good!

[@martininevada1581]

Yes this Video does take you back.

[@tarynfleischmann9494]

Beautiful film, congratulations to the talented director and writer:)

[@IgorOcash]

well done. Nothing happens, and you learn about everything that's happened. great acting by all esp. the teen surrogate mom.

[@richiemc6170]

The failure of the family, the failure of the school system, the failure of the authorities of the social services and the police. Basically, it is the failure of the adult society to protect and nurture all the kids that it encompasses. It is heartful that these 3 kids got to have a memorable moment, but their tomorrow is unpleasantly difficult. How will the adults in the community feel? Well, they will party like it's Sodom and Gomorrah with zero reflection. "The Tragedy of the Commons" and I am not just talking about the littered beer bottles and cans.

[@eugenetswong]

[edit: I forgot about the part about not trusting the mom and the guy] You're reading into it way too much, I think. Unless there is a fact that I missed, these kids were just living a good life outdoors in a small town.

[@staceywebber8808]

I remember doing this at my mums best friend's home that she lived with her elderly dad, only I didn't have a cart an I didn't even know their were bottles in the shed an I mean just about half the shed was full of them the smaller bottles that soda used to come in an back then if you took back the empties you got like 10c lol anyway I took a few up to the dairy an got a few bucks I was stoked I used to buy Cadbury cream eggs thats how long they have been around I'm 50 now, I just about emptied that shed an got into trouble once I was found out lol but it was worth those Cadbury cream eggs 😂

[@KASPLARFO]

BOWMANVILLE

[@noufohere1663]

Warming and nostalgic❤

[@sylvestervoigt9836]

Back in the Mid 70's those style Soda Cans Tabs would be all over the ground so We collected them up under the aupices of handing them in so some person could obtain an extra hour of Dialysis 🙏

[@paulwright8378]

Nope didn't understand that one either tho it did remind me of my teenage years Sept with pot 😂

[@TheeSlickShady]

I loved it !!

[@larryfreda5208]

Beautiful and uplifting

[@powerofthesun1000]

This was very poignant. So much can be inferred from just a snapshot of a normal day.

[@ralphx3c666]

Are there any other films where Abbey Jean Cowan appeared?

[@reme001]

That's a shame the kids lost all their bottles and cans.

[@dans.8198]

Interesting, but not a fan of the shaky camera.

[@wilmaboot]

Awesome

[@aundar1643]

Does anyone know the movie in which 3 girls find magic gems and whenever they drop them they get a different superpower or teleport to a different place or something. Watched it as a kid an now I'm curious

[@85Studios]

I want Ice Cream now dang it. And why didn't the kids want to go home, and why were they broke? This all seems so wrong.

[@tastefulsubstance]

Wrong but not uncommon. Selfish moms with abusive boyfriends isnt an evironment id wanna be in either...

[@chanceburger3169]

Cool

[@urbanjunglednbbreakcorehhc6781]

How is the tall one a kid when she can get pregnant for years already?

[@darrellsage3076]

❤😁👍

[@SeedsofEcofrog]

We must never forget when they coerced the children for use as shields to temporarily and marginally "protect" adults..

[@bulkvanderhuge9006]

Yeeeeaaaaa. that didn't happen in this video. post your political stuff in an appropriate channel, this is not the place.

[@CronmerXymar]

I was thinking like can the script be better... Is the budget just too little for a 10 minute short- what is this short film or what its called? This story is like a slow paced for which audience? The script and the result could be better even though I never had been working in any filmaking indutries etc. The budget is really this small?

[@asteroidasteroid1722]

I really liked the presentation of the film . very elegantly written and very sensitive.😊 Could you tell me who wrote it and if they have an Instagram account ? I would like to follow them.

[@durasaxon5131]

Simple. Sweet. Cautious. Childhood. Friendship. Story?: Enjoyable + Richard + _____ _____ _____