Passing, The
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Indie Shorts fascinate me. I’ve always been impressed with a writer’s or director’s ability to create characters and tell a story with very limited time. It takes a lot of talent to get me emotionally involved within a short period. Most of the time I don’t make that connection, but “The Passing” had me hooked quickly, and deep.

Clocking in around a half an hour, “The Passing” tells a very simple story of grief. Annette (Geanie Alan) has died, and her husband Sean (Johnny Alonso) and friends Adam and Mary (Clayton Myers and Lisa Rogers) go to her funeral. The morning leading up to and the evening after the funeral focuses on these three and how they cope with their loss, and the emotions of the others. I know, it doesn’t sound very thrilling on paper, and the whole time I was waiting for ‘the hook’ – but believe me, without taking your clothes off this is the most emotionally draining half hour you’ll spend in the living room.

The characters were very likable, and even though at the beginning of the story I thought Sean was a complete ass, by the end I felt so bad for him that I wanted to give the poor bastard a hug. At 8pm I didn’t know who Annette was, and by 8:30 I felt like I had lost a close friend – that’s how potent and raw the emotional outpouring was. Quiet reflection, guilt, anger, remorse, acceptance – we’re exposed to it all.

A huge thumbs up to the cast – again, without a lot of time to pull me in, they had me on the verge of whimpering like a neglected puppy by the end. Besides some terrific writing and great cast, I was also impressed by the lighting. There were only a handful of sets – but they each had a completely different mood, especially Sean’s living room. This is where his emotions truly reach their tempest, and the black furniture with green and red lighting had an almost otherworldly effect – like he was sitting in his own private hell.

While I’m kissing all sorts of ass, I should mention the music as well. The soundtrack is a weepy acoustic guitar – the kind of thing that I’d turn off in a heartbeat on the radio – but it fit the story perfectly. It’s the kind of melodramatic composition that would make Clapton proud.

“The Passing” is currently doing the festival circuit, and being shown on 100dimension.com, an interesting concept for internet TV that combines old public domain movies with new independent projects…the gist is, you can check out “The Passing” for free. If your up for being shouldered with some introspective sorrow, I advise checking it out. 4 cans out of 5.

Added:  Sunday, March 25, 2007

Related Link:  Black Ink Films' official site
Language: eng[ Did you find this review helpful?  Yes  No ]
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