The film weaves technology and sexuality together to create the most skilled and arresting narrative about the journey with regards to his gender identity and the manner in which it comes to be located in his marriage. As Emelia and Jeff celebrate their twentieth marriage anniversary, they decide to experiment with virtual reality glasses that echo their deepest subconscious perceptions of the self. A hesitant and sceptical Jeff is encouraged by his wife to let go of his apprehensions and try them on. What follows next is perhaps something neither the viewer nor the couple could have expected. Instead of potentially a night of "kinky sex", as later on one of the characters goes ahead to call it, it becomes one of revelations and self-discovery. The film employs light and sound to conjure an atmosphere of unease, which is an echo of the uncertainty, nervousness and confusion of the characters themselves. The performances blend in most seamlessly with the camerawork which only enhances the mood and sentiment that have been invoked so far. Consequently, the story of the film is a beautiful one, striking the right chords and exploring the most worthy nuances. Indeed its biggest strength lies in the manner of using something as clinical and potentially cold as science, to engage with human emotion, identity and the idea of the self in the most delicate manner.

Vert | Short Film of the Day

If the premise of the film, a man choosing to be furniture for his wife (quite literally) is not bizarre enough, there is its accompanying opening visual - a man upside down, posing as a seat for someone to sit on. As the story progresses, the viewer is allowed the chance to make sense of this seemingly absurd situation which, behind the facade of ridiculousness, carries a strong comment on marriage. It further draws attention to the breakdown of communication between the couple where instead of realising what your partner truly desires (or perhaps even read their texts), you might end up over-compensating in a manner that does little to cater to their needs. The film is notably neat in the manner in which it conjures its visuals minus any loud noises, harsh light or bursts of colours. The conversation between the two characters is frugal, much like their house, following a minimalist approach to furniture. And just when one partner is done taking care of his futile efforts to be furniture, it is time for the other to step into the same role. As redundant as these efforts might be, it is perhaps the only way they can fill in the lacunas in their communication.

Bad Furniture | Short Film of the Day

What happens when a man only has 1500 words left to live? Does he rage against the arbitrary nature of life where words have come to reign supreme when it comes to human communication? Or does he accept silence as his fate and goes on with life with his head down? The film is a humorous yet heart-breaking exploration of the same dilemma as Stanley struggles to stay alive as well as his keep marriage afloat. In its own nuanced and comedic manner, the narrative further engages with the importance (or the lack of it) of silence in a relationship. As Stanley strives to extend his life, a very tough enemy remains to be conquered - the absolute human need to articulate - be it sadness, pain, anger, denial or love. Amidst all this rigmarole of emotions, expectations and duties, where will the protagonist finally find himself?

1500 Words | Short Film of the Day

Based on a real story, the short film follows the life of a couple with three children who develops a voyeuristic fixation on their neighbors. Living across the street from them, the neighboring couple seems to have an aspirational life by all measures. They party into the early hours of morning against a background of passionate lovemaking and clearly seem to have it all together. This is positioned in direct contrast with the life of the film's main characters - struggling to catch up on sleep while taking care of three children, or simply trying to get a free weekend away from a world of work calls. The film is made in a manner that allows it to steer clear of over-sentimentalism and that perhaps is its biggest strength, along with convincing performances and strong chemistry of its actors. There is also an opposite side of the story waiting for the patient viewer who sits till the very end. However, the narrative does run the danger of over-simplifying the concepts it has set out to engage with, often subscribing neat black and white categories to its characters' experiences. Though well-intentioned, there is a want of nuance and complexity it would have benefited from.

The Neighbors’ Window | Short Film of the Day

The film opens with a terrible development, the sudden and tragic death of Noah’s wife while doing the most mundane, ordinary task. When Noah continues to pretend like she never died and goes ahead with life as usual, the narrative swiftly changes in tonality and approach to present a story marked by the absurd, and in the process, the darkest humor. 

Though humor might have nestled itself within the circumstance, it is denial, grief, longing, and the resultant rejection of letting go that become the primary preoccupation of the film. The storytelling shows promise, prompting the possibility of a longer project of a similar tenor.

 
At the same time, the film’s brevity allows it to sustain itself, without losing its impact or becoming farcical. The employment of the fixed space, competent performances, and visual grammar ensure that it successfully communicates all of this in a lasting way, resounding its core message first established in the title.

All Things Must End.  | Short Film of the Month

While romance per se might seem like a go-to subject when it comes to filmmaking, truly capturing its essence is not the easiest task. Weaving a narrative with nuances, subtleties and poignance requires a skilfulness which Lavender exhibits. The story of a young boy getting involved in the marriage of an older couple in itself is a premise that requires mature and intelligent handling, which this film succeeds at achieving. It opens with a tight shot of a couple sitting at a piano, the perfect picture of love and affection. However, soon the idea of the normative, monogamous couple is disrupted by a third man who joins them, yet the scene continues in the most calm and undisturbed manner. Through its delineation of the equation of the three lovers, the film attempts a moving exploration of sexuality, emotions and boundaries, allowing it to be a quiet embrace for the viewer whose warmth and scent continues to linger long after it's passed and over.

Lavender | Short Film of the Day

The film explores the deeply disturbing space of domestic abuse, but more specifically, the absolute and crushing difficulty of escaping that space. The said exploration remains crisp and swift, as well as impactful in the force with which it shares its ideas. 

The viewer is presented with a woman, the protagonist, who is bruised and hurt in an appalling manner. While she takes care of her injuries, her young son, completely unaware of her mother’s plight, watches playfully violent antics of cartoon characters on the television in the next room. 

The film employs the innocent, childish images from the cartoon as a juxtaposition against the brutal reality of the physical assault of the protagonist, to drive its message home. Frenzied texts from her husband continue, “Can we just talk?”, “It won’t happen again.”, and the viewer already knows the implicit responses to them - the direction this talk will eventually take won't be very different from the current scenario, and that it will indeed happen again. In the process, an urgent message is also offered, but without making the narrative didactic, overly-sentimental or superficial.

Come Back | Short Film of the Day

The short film exhibits a unique idea, experimental storytelling and seamless editing. The story is of a man who is struggling to cope with the death of his wife, and finds himself taking refuge in revisiting a particular memory of her. The narrative opens with a quote that is a disturbing reiteration of the premise of the film - allowing yourself to be engulfed by a moment of pain to the extent of it turning into an addiction. This addiction, in the process, becomes the only source of joy the protagonist clings on to like his life depends on it, and perhaps, at an emotional and mental level, it does. Impossibility: Possibility invokes the cyclical nature of addiction, and how, despite the path of destruction it might potentially be leading the protagonist to, it has now become the sole reason of why he gets out of bed every morning. Further, it is an attempt to give a glimpse of the far-reaching consequences of the deep infestation of technology in our lives, while also engaging with a man's attempts to cope with loss, grief and a battle with mental illness. While technology might make even the most impossible tasks possible, are we prepared to face all that it truly entails?

Impossibility: Possibility| Short Film of the Day

The film is a brief, crisp, fast-paced story about a woman who is grappling with immense change in her life. Sam has recently moved to a new city with her husband. Away from loved ones and a life she was more familiar with, she now finds herself physically and emotionally isolated. 

 Throughout the film, there is an overarching suggestion of the loneliness she battles in her marriage as well. With an absentee husband, Sam only has her own terrors and nightmares as companions in the darkness of the night. The film explores all of this and some more in its few minutes, roping in jump scares and a suggestion of the darkness of the human mind, to bring its intended horrors to life. 

 There is a suggestion of the internal demons of the mind making their way into the corporeal, physical reality of the protagonist, while keeping the viewer guessing about the nature of the haunting - whether supernatural or psychological. In the process, the final result becomes an engaging and absorbing ride, one that will keep you at the edge of your seat all along.

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