Despite the Title,
Short Film has Lots of Love
When I started to watch the short film by director Zak Forsman, I imagined all types of sophomoric angst that could be behind a film called I F*cking Hate You. The title seemed pulled from the notebook of a first year student who thinks "offensive" is synonymous with "edgy." Nevertheless, I grit my teeth and watched it; waiting for the spew of expletives that I was sure would follow.
Written by: Zak Forsman
Starring: Marion Kerr and John T. Woods
Rated
Running time: 9 min.
FilmGuru's Rating : 9 out of 10.
Instead, I found a soft, nervous drama. A man (John T. Woods) is trying in the most clumsy way to reunite with his ex-girlfriend (Marion Kerr). The moment seems lifted from real life. He brings her a box of their things, offering her the chance to rummage through these mementos before he turns them over to charity. However, the one item she wants – a coffee mug – isn't in the collection. If she wants it, she needs to come by his apartment.
The short film took less time to watch than it will take me to write this review, but it was polished. The improvised script came across as genuine, even if it stumbled at times. The camerawork made the most of light and shadows in the half-lit apartment. And the acting was often inspired. There is a moment when Kerr's eyes shift ever-so-slightly, and it's as if she's telegraphing every thought in her head.
The film is Dogme95 certified, meaning that it follows the rules of the group's manifesto. Essentially, this means that the filmmaker works on location and avoids the trappings of post-production, striving for purity in film. According to the film's official website, IFHY broke a few of the rules but "proudly reflects the spirit of Dogme95 and its raw, minimalist esthetic."
Forsman does a lot with very little. He gets some great performances out of the actors and builds a short film that is worth a few minutes of your time. The entire thing is a joy to watch. I loved it, which says a lot considering the title.
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