The short drama TRUST, directed and written by Diane Lansing is a period piece set during World War II, and inspired by true events according to the opening credits.

The movie is a family tale of a family tricked into revealing their Jewish heritage by a smooth-talking Nazi.

The acting over the entire cast is superb, and Emily Bader is a standout as Lena. The entire script feels personal and intimate, and Emily’s delivery in every scene carries authenticity.

The soundtrack is subtle but effective. You know exactly the mood and tone every scene is trying to convey. The cinematography is tight, although some of the outdoor scenes feel a bit too modern in the locales and shooting style. It might have something to do with how wide some of the shots are, revealing a little too much and taking away some of the intimacy felt during the scenes shot indoors. Even though it’s a short film, the pacing feels a little fast, but that might also be because I was enjoying watching the characters interact with each other.

Seeing the end title card for the film felt good. Hearing that Lena’s quiet defiance led to her and her family’s escape to the United States was wonderful to see, although I wish a small scene of that was actually shot for the movie rather than just told in words.

As far as my final opinion is concerned about this short film, I’ll leave it at this. Never trust a Nazi.