“Operator” (2015) by Caroline Bartleet

An emergency-services operator tries to help a woman and her child when a house fire threatens their lives.

The film begins in a hub of activity where emergency-services operators are responding to a variety of crisis calls. We soon meet the operator who is the focus of the film. She is talking to a woman whose house is on fire and her 3-year-old son is in danger. The operator’s method of dealing with the situation and watching her go through this stressful call makes it clear that this is not an easy job. The situation escalates while the operator stays determined to help.

Though the camera stays with the operator, creating a strong connect with this character, the intensity of the caller and her worsening situation adds a strong invisible layer to the viewing experience. There is sufficient tension and mystery to keep the viewer pulled in.

Single-actor-single-location films are always a worthy challenge. To structure it around a single phone call and keeping it crisp makes ‘Operator’ memorabl