ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Guy Who Made Christmas Ad With £50 Budget Makes Emotional Loneliness Film

Guy Who Made Christmas Ad With £50 Budget Makes Emotional Loneliness Film

The film-maker certainly knows how to get you reaching for the tissues

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

Remember the alternative Christmas advert that was doing the rounds recently? The one that guy made with £50 which had everybody crying?

Yes, well that guy has done another film - and it is probably going to have you crying again.

The film is actually pretty similar to the one that went viral a couple of weeks ago, in that it centres around the pain of losing someone and it also features some Christmassy bits. Indeed, the title of Phil Beastall's new film, Time is a Gift, alludes to this similarity (his previous film was called Love is a Gift).

The film focuses on the theme of loneliness and the pain it can cause for those who have lost a loved one.

Partners and parents in the film can be seen struggling to come to terms with the hole in their lives. By highlighting the simple moments that make up a day for the bereaved and lonely, such as reaching for two mugs out of habit, instead of one, the film serves as a poignant illustration of how difficult it is to adapt to life alone.

Undoubtedly, the 32-year-old film-maker from Gloucestershire has the knack of making you feel very emotional indeed in the space of just a few minutes.

Phil Beastall's film highlights the emotional suffering on the lonely.
Good Morning Britain/Phil Beastall

Towards the end of the film, the sufferers are allowed a smile at last, thanks to volunteers who make the time to visit or call. A closing message reads: "You can help end loneliness. Pledge your time now."

The touching film is part of Good Morning Britain's '1 Million Minutes' campaign, which aims to encourage people from across the UK to pledge some of their time to help someone who has lost a loved one or is lonely.

A summary of the campaign reads: "A survey by Good Morning Britain has found that more than half of Brits felt lonely after losing someone they were close to, a third said such a loss had had a detrimental effect on their mental health - we want to change that.

"An hour of company over the Christmas period could make a real difference to someone who has lost a loved one or is alone. Pledging an hour a week could help a neighbour get essentials from the shops. You can pledge to support one of our three charities, or support someone off your own back as and when you can. How much time can you give?"


To pledge some of your time, or find out more, visit the '1 Million Minutes' page.

And if you haven't yet seen Love is a Gift, watch it above, and get your cheeks all wet again.

Featured Image Credit: Good Morning Britain/Phil Beastall

Topics: UK News, TV and Film