Stuck in a repetitive loop reflects the monotonous everyday life in a hospice for emotionally isolated Bill (David Bradley). Written, directed, and produced by duo, Daniel Audritt and Kat Butterfield sees the release of their first short film, Life Goes On – a fragile portrait of what it means to truly be alive.
This film celebrated its UK premiere at Raindance Film Festival 2026 under the ‘Female Gaze’ category. The story follows Bill who is a tough cookie and a hard nut to crack. Unable to move out of his bed, Bill has kept his mind sharp and accurate. He keeps his witty self-alive and his quips are springy and active. There’s certainly no one who can compete with his mental drive.
Life Goes On: The Need For Connection
But stuck in an infinite time-loop storyline sees Bill experience the same day repeatedly. From talking to Nurse Ella (Jayne Aguire) and fellow patients to family and visitors (including Matt Berry’s Dave) and a local reporter. Despite watching over everyone in the room, it’s one special person he waits for that lifts his spirit and brightens his day – his daughter, Vicki (Laura Checkley) who leads a busy life with work and family.
But her late-night visit is the highlight of his day. This sees his hard exterior melt into his soft interior as he becomes teary-eyed talking to his favourite person. We see a different side to him and can’t help but think this is the real version of Bill who underneath his stoic exterior is still in need of human connection. The endlessly positive Lizzie (Maggie Steed) eventually becomes his bedside bestie, and their friendship forever changes his outlook on life.
Gifting a legacy to this story, both directors used inheritances from family members who lived to 100 years old to help finance the project. Life Goes On draws on Butterfield’s experience working in a hospice which resonates with its personal themes of family, ageing, and emotional honesty.
A Reminder On The Fragility Of The Human Spirit
Audritt and Butterfield achieve just the right balance between comedy and seriousness. One minute Bill is drawing out laughs, and the next scene grounds his story back to life. Its tonal shifts bring a familiarity to everyday routines which shows this monotonous loop relates to life even outside the hospice environment.
Transforming from grumpy to sentimental, Bill sees life differently for once. Struggling to face difficult conversations with his family, he soon realises he will regret it all if he doesn’t act now. Becoming smiley, positive, and talkative, it’s emotional seeing Bill’s character transformation. Clearly this was always him inside, but he needed to see more ‘life’ to ‘go on.’
The directors cleverly replay the scenes again but through a different angle. Instead of Bill just reacting he acts impulsively and talks back to his guests with attitude and strength. Bradley delivers each line with either serious prose or comedic flattery with perfect timing.
Life Goes On is a swaying reminder on the fragility of life. The small moments of fun are the memories that become cherished long after.
Rating: 4 stars
Life Goes On is part of Filmotomy’s coverage on Raindance Film Festival 2026.
Check out Filmotomy’s interview with directors Daniel Audritt and Kat Butterfield here.
