A man stands by the curb, waiting to be picked up by someone. The mood is melancholy, marked by dolefulness of color and mannerisms. However, the tension is soon undercut by what follows next. Two people, accompanied by a dog, stop by, and ensure that the protagonist finds himself sandwiched in a very uncomfortable situation. 

The narrative subverts any and all expectations the film’s title may have established so far. Instead of beverages and snacks by the roadside, we are instead met with a very different ‘curb service’. After lightheartedness and teasing, now emotions of loss, grief and death enter the plot, but without making it overbearing. 

The film offers a union of the two moods, and it is indeed in this that its most notable characteristic lies. It is also a welcome prospect to see further exploration of the premise, and overlap of mood and tones in future storytelling endeavors.

Curb Service | Short Film Nominee

The story of ‘Yard Sale’ is of one afternoon when a man is selling off some old items after the passing of his mother. From crock pots to tuxedos to musical instruments and statues of Indian goddesses, there is all kinds of paraphernalia in this sale. While these items may have once constituted the life of a family, now each of them finds a new significance for different customers. 

The film weaves them all together to portray the innumerable ways an object can interact with memory and experience. The same is communicated sometimes through music, song, and dance, and sometimes simply in the form of a verbal exchange between two people. The narrative, though showing the want of a little cohesiveness, is a sweet endeavor in storytelling, and should be appreciated thus. There is further the intention to look at the role of memory and the manner in which it comes to be deeply embedded and entwined with emotions, as well as relationships that define us.

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