There Will Come Soft Rains (2025)

-Written by Kyle Bain.

As water levels threaten to rise, Mira (Olivia D’Lima) attempts to exhume and relocate her deceased father. With time and the law working against her, she must turn to an unlikely source for help. There Will Come Soft Rains is the story of reconciliation in a time when it’s needed the most.

Mira is almost never present at the center of the screen, with the exception of one, brief shot in which There Will Come Soft Rains shifts its narrative and tonal focus. Mira is nearly always shown off balance or offcenter, expressing to viewers the reality in which she lives. Her life has fallen apart, and the one thing that she’s held onto is at risk of literally being washed away, taken from her forever. The cinematography strengthens these sentiments and allows viewers a better understanding of Mira’s predicament. Furthermore, Director of Photography Yiannas Manolopoulos isn’t subtle in his camerawork, aggressively framing Mira in unique ways, adding depth to There Will Come Soft Rains and raising it to new levels of intensity every step of the way. 

There Will Come Soft Rains’ score was composed by Hollie Buhagiar and often consists of calming, yet tragic sounds that embrace the dark, honest tone of the film. What allows that score to thrive so brilliantly, however, is the use of water to support it. Sound Designer Guldem Masa threads the sound of water into nearly every beat of the film, providing cohesion, fluidity, and accessibility. There are moments of There Will Come Soft Rains in which the story feels like an exaggerated version of real life, but the use of familiar sounds grounds the film. 

A film about death isn’t expectedly funny, but when comedy can be organically inserted into a film of this nature, it’s a welcome addition. There Will Come Soft Rains is a tragic story that grows more tragic as it moves forward. The occasional joke or comedic instance between sisters alleviates some of the emotional pain that is strewn throughout--providing a necessary levity. 

There Will Come Soft Rains remains evenkeeled throughout its majority, presenting viewers with a trying narrative about loss and grief--but existing within the film are brief moments of humor that help to tonally round out this short film. The sound design of Masa and his cohort, as well as Buhagiar’s score allow the film to remain fluid and accessible, grounding it and presenting viewers with something familiar and viscerally astounding. There Will Come Soft Rains is a visually bleak (and intentionally so) cinematic venture that relies more on what can be heard than what can be seen. 

Directed by Elham Ehsas. 

Written by Elham Ehsas & Sam Perry. 

Starring Olivia D’Lima, Priya Davdra, Arjun Singh Panam, Rachel Redford, Dominic Rowan, etc. 

8.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING