[Warning: This content contains spoilers]

If you had one last chance to tell anything to the person you love the most, what would you say to them?

“If Anything Happens I Love You,” an animated short film by Michael Govier and Will McCormack, portrays this very heartbreaking moment of a young girl who is a victim of the school shooting event with her last text message read—“If anything happens I love you,” and the state of pain her parents are in after the loss of their daughter. As the film was well executed touching people’s hearts and causing them tears, it received many awards from various film festivals as well as a phenomenal response from audiences all over the internet after its release on Netflix on November 20, 2020.

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The story follows a middle-aged couple sitting at the opposite side of the dining table with a sad look on their face. Additionally, the floating shadows, who argue with one another and try to brighten up the owner of their body but miserably fail, tell us something is off with this couple. If you didn’t read the synopsis before diving into the film, you would soon realize that they are grieving over their deceased daughter and those shadows are possibly part of their soul that has passed away together with her.

As the story carries on, it reveals how happy this family used to be before the incidence with a flashback to memories of their daughter growing up. Toward the ending, the mystery behind the tragedy eventually unfolds, as soon as the American flag comes to the display in vivid color, contrasting the almost black and white tone of the film. With the sound of gunshots in the background, the audience finally comes to the realization that the story is based on a real-life situation of the school shooting in the United States.

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Using narrative empathy, the story is simply told within twelve minutes without any actual dialogue, yet it produces tremendous effects on the audience. The portrayal of grieving parents reflects the pain and sorrow from losing their kid while black shadows show their inner feelings and thoughts trying to handle it.

It is an experience that every American has in common or can relate to since school shootings and gun violence are some of the major problems American society is facing. According to Everytown’s report, almost 2,900 children and teenagers are shot and killed, and almost 15,600 more are shot and wounded making an estimated 3 million American children who are exposed to shooting per year. Thus it can be said that these two figures from the film represent fathers and mothers out there who also have lost their children from the same incidence.

By watching each scene, “If Anything Happens I Love You” can trigger empathy among Americans who may or may not share this very same experience; they can be able to identify themselves with the characters and empathize with them. Besides, the fact that we never knew whose text message on the phone screen belongs to implies that this could happen to anyone’s children, and consequently encourage people to take action toward this serious matter.

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Meanwhile, those who don’t have the same background as the American can still get the message and empathize with the characters by using the narrative of parents which seems to be the only thing that connects our emotions toward this film altogether.

Having the opening scene portrayed the image of heartbroken parents suffer in a silent misery followed by many scenes illustrating the daughter’s life from the moment she was born, her process of growing up under her parents’ care till when she is gone, the sentiment of the audience is definitely being provoked. Apart from these affective and impactful pictures, the film also employs an emotional song like “1950” by King Princess which creates tenderness in people’s hearts even more.

At the last minute, the film smoothly makes its point across to the audience with the image of the American flag and the gun firing sound. This is when the narrative has an effect on our empathy the most as many viewers admit crying during the film; it is heart-wrenching yet beautifully portrayed.

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References

If Anything Happens I Love You. Directed by Michael Govier & Will McCormack, Gilbert Films & Oh Good Productions, 2020. http://www.netflix.com/watch/81349306?.

11, February. Gunfire on School Grounds in the United States, maps.everytownresearch.org/gunfire-in-school/.