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This movie’s eight hundred dollar budget was used on food, camera and light rental, and travel. It was also a bit of a “bare minimum” production. Not only were there only two actors, but it was shot with only three crew members. While the cost might seem a bit high for so limited a scope and cast/crew, equipment rental is certainly not cheap, especially in New York City, where it was filmed. And the end result turned out pretty good.
This film has an interesting premise – one man’s homemade “therapy” and a woman’s search for companionship. Of course Ben certainly wouldn’t consider what he is doing infidelity, and would likely think he was benefitting from his sessions with April. But given the highly personal things that are shared between the two of them, they may as well have had an extramarital tryst every time they crossed paths. The themes of irony and tragedy play a key part in this film, and with its simplicity they clearly stand out.
Ben’s actions are certainly an unorthodox method of infidelity – if it can in fact be considered infidelity. The normal course of action in an unhappy marriage usually involves a prostitute, but not in the way that Ben has employed April. And, ironically enough, he seems to be getting at least some minimal benefit out of these “therapy sessions.” The problem comes, however, when April begins to get attached to him, and - though he refuses to admit it – he is starting to fall for her too. Perhaps the true lesson behind this story is that of honesty – not only with one’s spouse, but also with oneself.
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Content |
8.3 |
Visual
Look |
8.4 |
Use
of Audio |
8.1 |
Use
of Budget |
7.8 |
Lasting
Appeal |
8.3 |
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8.1 |
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The
author of half a dozen screen plays, two novels, and a proficient
camera-woman in her own right, Monika
DeLeeuw-Taylor is Microfilmmaker's lead writing analyst and
one of our top film reviewers. When she's not writing a critique for
Microfilmmaker, she's writing screenplays for Viking Productions. |
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