‘You don’t know what it’s like to be born to do something.‘ Written by Joe Wills and directed by Roxana Stroe, Beam Me Up (2024) tells a one-man’s melancholic journey from being ‘the life of the party’ on his working days to being made miserably redundant.
Set in a London Underground station during the 1980s, we follow Pete (Nigel Betts) – an upbeat manual lift operator who is joyously talkative to those travelling alongside him. But his life comes crashing down when his boss, Doug (Joe Tucker) tells him these newly refurbished lifts will no longer require an operator.
Presented by the National Film School, the film speaks on the nature of workers against companies. And the loyalty clearly doesn’t run both ways. Through Pete’s story, it shows you can be so dedicated to a company, but they hold the power to then instantly fire you. Betts is sensational at showcasing the emotional heartbreak which Pete faces. As the realisation settles in that no one cares about the decision but him.
Feeling born to do the job, Pete’s dedication to consistently provide people with an excellent service – to be talkative, to ask about their day, and to constantly be a positive source of energy and output is admirable.
Beam Me Up: Pulling at Heart Strings
Wills writes an extremely likeable and self-effacing character in Pete, and we are behind his journey at every step. Beam Me Up is emotional and will pull at your heart strings. Meanwhile, heartless manager, Doug is everything we would expect in a position of such power.
Although, when Pete protests, Doug is still thinking about his own wants and needs – without a care in the world of what it means to others. Whilst people who Pete has befriended over the years, including Doris (Anita Dobson) don’t know how they will manage without him, Doug just wants him to leave.
But Beam Me Up is also a powerful story on love and friendship too. Pete’s love for fellow lift operator, Sheila (Amanda Lawrence) makes his bad day better. But they have a ‘will they -won’t they’ situation on their hands. The story builds up in anticipation as we yearn for Pete to achieve his happy ending.
Finding a Real Sense of Purpose
The film feels very relevant to today’s working landscape as technology threatens to take over our jobs. Beam Me Up creates meaning in the monotonous everyday work routine. For Pete he finds joy in making others happy. He finds a real sense of purpose. But when this sense leaves him, he must adapt to change.
This short film was shot on 16mm with the 1980s London Underground setting built by the crew. The screen is washed with a vintage feel to throw us back into feeling what the world would be like for these characters. Roxana Stroe’s direction throughout Beam Me Up feels both nostalgic and timeless. Pete is shaped by an emotional journey. His story makes the audience reflect on their own careers too. As the short film asks us, ‘are we replaceable?’
Rating: 4 Stars
Beam Me Up is part of Filmotomy’s coverage on the Femme Filmmakers Festival 2026.
You can read more reviews from the festival, including Dirt (2026) here.