Now You See Me, Now You Don't (2005)

3 Stars (out of 4)

Invisible Kid

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

A dad (Ernõ Fekete) works late in the lab running secret new experiments while mom (Dóra Létay) watches six year-old son Alex (Vitéz Ábrahám) at home. Dad brings home a mysterious box and the next thing anyone knows, Alex has turned invisible. Like most of today's short films, this 30-minute Hungarian film from writer/director Attila Szász has a twist ending, and it's a good one, but events leading up to it don't quite click; the characters' behavior is a bit odd -- the effect is off-putting rather than intriguing. Nevertheless, the powerful, unforgettable payoff explains everything, and it's worth waiting for. The film is beautifully shot, in widescreen, with powerful use of silences, pauses and shadows. It's an almost tactile experience. Events take place in and around a winding, driveway garden, which provides a very physical entry into the film. Now You See Me, Now You Don't is currently making its way around the world in film festivals (most recently New Jersey, Turkey, Croatia and London). See the official page for more info.