An old man’s routine visit to a local doctor’s office takes a twist when there’s a lack of civility from a woman tired of waiting her turn. There is a wonderful message of understanding and compassion in this new short from Colin Gerrard and Jaine Green (Cherry Cake, VIFF 2015). In a world where anti-immigrant and racist sentiments merge with class entitlement and religious intolerance, Eli brings a timely message. These are not easy subjects to address, and the film does an admirable job of illustrating without coming off as lecturing, presenting without preaching. It’s punch comes from an unexpected new addition to an oft-told and well-established narrative, some solid ensemble acting and dynamic camera work and editing. In the film Eli tells of an incident that changed his life, and his unforgettable story and the immediate results it engenders offer hope to all of us.