LIVE FROM THE INDUSTRY@TALLINN & BALTIC EVENT

Tina is a film director. She tries to convince Pero to act in her next movie. But the young thespian has a problem: every time he embodies a new character, the personality traits creep into his real life. Slovenian director Damjan Kozole often breaks the fourth wall, inviting the spectator into this informal “recruitment”.

The entire story takes place a night, in a small cafe and bar. The location becomes a character in its own right. The spectator is immediately immersed into the conversation. In the very first scene, we watch Pero’s face from close as a carefully listens to Tina’s proposition.

This short film is neatly structured into three acts: the first one is serious and solemn, the second one is a more relaxed conversation lifted by cheerful music, while the final act provides profound interaction with Pero as we stare deep into his eyes (thus revealing his honest feelings). The gazes and the facial expressions are almost more important than the dialogue itself. As a result, it isn’t always possible to grasp the views and opinions of the characters, particularly the very skeptical Pero.

A waitress plays an important secondary role. Her presence adds another layer of complexity to the communication between Tina and Pero. She is quietly in the background, attentively watching and listening, and also exchange glances with the actor. Is it possible that they know each other? Or is she just a casual witness of the conversation? Audiences are invited to identify with her. We too become active voyeurs.

Cigarette break have a peculiar significance, also helping to structure the story. They take place in the dark outdoors, and represent the end of each conversation. That’s when the actor delivers his final answers. Maybe he once played the role of a smoker addicted to cigarettes laced with truth serum. Who knows. This is a movie with more questions than answers (perhaps a few too many even).

The Actor premiered in the PÖFF Shorts section of the 28th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. This review was written as part of the Film Review Workshop conducted on November 10th, 2024.

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Justine Fruytier is a French architecture student genuineloy passionate about cinema. The link between these two fields has fascinated her for may years. She wrote her bachelor thesis about this connection. She will continue to work on the topic for her master thesis.