With: Damien Chinappi, Michael Gonza, Marybeth Paul
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Written by: Kris Salvi
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Directed by: Alessio Cappelletti
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MPAA Rating: NR
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Running Time: 9
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Date: 05/10/2019
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Dead Meet
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
A man sits in a small restaurant, in a window seat. He takes nuts, or wasabi peas, or edamame, or what have you, from a bowl, making a line of them on the table. He's either nervous or obsessive-compulsive, or perhaps just waiting. A beautiful woman appears outside, walking by one window, then another, before entering. She taps him on the shoulder and takes a seat. He's shocked by how beautiful she is. Before long it becomes clear that some arrangement, some transaction has been made. But what? Most short films — and The Date runs about nine minutes, including credits — have some kind of twist ending, and this one does too, but it's a good one. I didn't see it coming, and it opens up many intriguing questions; the film continues running in your head long after it's over. It consists of just a few angles (there are a few continuity errors, but I'm told shooting took place over only one night, with very little money, so have patience), but the dark night and the lights from the streetlights and shop signs give it a drifting noir feel. Best of all is the layered soundtrack, full of hums and ripples and things moving by, constantly, all around these fixed figures. Things are about to happen for these folks, but what's important is this moment, before it happens, while things are still normal. "Don't look back," warns the woman. She's right, but forward is even scarier.
The Date will hopefully hit film festivals in the fall of 2019. Check here for more details.
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