(Hans Canosa, 2005, USA, 84 minutes)
It seems like you're watching a typical wedding scene, with a typical, disgruntled bridesmaid, and a typical groomsman offering her champagne and trying to get into her hotel room (and her dress). Only, there's something a bit off. Well, actually a few things - the most obvious of which is what is going on with the screen.
Director Hans Canosa took a great script and filmed it in an interesting manner: splitting the screen in half to show you two frames of the same scene. At times, it's merely distracting - when seeing what appears to be two different takes of the same dialogue for example - and at times, it absolutely works, particularly when showcasing a past storyline and integrating the then and now.
In any case, the film is heavy on interesting dialogue and Helena Bonham Carter and Aaron Eckhart deliver it in a way that makes you listen. The story moves from the couple's initial meeting at the reception to an exploration of past and current relationships, which reveals more and more of what brings them together on screen - all the while keeping them separate with the split-screen device.
By the time the credits roll, you'll have soaked up a lot of information that will leave you feeling contemplative and a little depressed - just like a real relationship. Recommended for those feeling particularly introspective, Conversations does its job well.
It seems like you're watching a typical wedding scene, with a typical, disgruntled bridesmaid, and a typical groomsman offering her champagne and trying to get into her hotel room (and her dress). Only, there's something a bit off. Well, actually a few things - the most obvious of which is what is going on with the screen.
Director Hans Canosa took a great script and filmed it in an interesting manner: splitting the screen in half to show you two frames of the same scene. At times, it's merely distracting - when seeing what appears to be two different takes of the same dialogue for example - and at times, it absolutely works, particularly when showcasing a past storyline and integrating the then and now.
In any case, the film is heavy on interesting dialogue and Helena Bonham Carter and Aaron Eckhart deliver it in a way that makes you listen. The story moves from the couple's initial meeting at the reception to an exploration of past and current relationships, which reveals more and more of what brings them together on screen - all the while keeping them separate with the split-screen device.
By the time the credits roll, you'll have soaked up a lot of information that will leave you feeling contemplative and a little depressed - just like a real relationship. Recommended for those feeling particularly introspective, Conversations does its job well.
I'm getting close to eighty films since we started on May1st and this is one of the best I've seen with ten days to go. As you pointed out, it was a clever way to present flashbacks without interrupting the story. Too bad I only saw it at 7-G, I bet it was great at the Neptune! Linas Phillips uses multiple images in Walking To Werner also, a few times, and very effectivly. SIFF is only showing it ONE time! Next Thursday at the Neptune.
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