WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Love stories. Been there, done that, right? Now, this isn’t to say that such tales are a BAD thing, as it is more than evident these days that this world could VERY much use more pointed lessons IN the entire concept of love and what it should TRULY be. As individuals, regardless (and NOT remotely invalidating the pain or disappointment associated that can be a part of the pursuit) of what our situations may be, genuine adoration that is shared and LASTS is what we yearn for. Sometimes, how this gets acheived and illustrated can be–unconventional–but no less pertinent. In a Los Angeles park one night, a highly unusual encounter in love occurs, coming about between a sweet-hearted vine named Vernell (voiced by Michelle Arthur) and an iron fence named Frank (voiced by Jeff Vernon). Their subsequent conversation takes on a life of its own, with a direction they both remain unsure but hopeful for.
Next, my Mind:
This critic must be firmly transparent here, and this is only stated to make the point that, as mentioned above, this currently frenzied and so sadly divided time we reside within truly REQUIRES it, this consummately FUN, undeniably charming, innocently and purposefully uncomplicated, wonderfully engaging little indie short film from writer/director/producer Michelle Arthur and animator/illustrator Jeff Vernon carries it’s messages of interpersonal relationships and the search for acceptance through love on its sleeve, and makes it winningly accessible by choosing both visual and foundational thematic elements that place it totally outside the proverbial flower box. Folks, for any that might take a surface approach to this effort and claim “unimpressive” animation and/or it just being a “silly” overall story should take a breath, look BEYOND the surface, and drink in the film’s intent that speaks volumes to our HUMAN need for first seeking out and then BEING loved.
The narrative centered on showcasing this journey as “seen” through the “eyes” of a vine and a fence located in a Los Angeles park one evening, the basic but wonderfully created, storybook-like animation (and mind you, this is in relative comparison to the overtly CGI-centric realm we find in contemporary big-budget efforts) alone actually helps accentuate the events depicted and infuses it all with an adorably cute, endearing magic that makes you both smile and long for the path to love (if you haven’t already had the blessing of finding it). Placing this within the admittedly eccentric “nature vs. a man-made structure” context unequivocally brings about a focus maintained ON the messages as opposed to distracting you with flashy imagery. It’s like being witness to a child’s fairy tale world, but that has a maturity which any adult can more than relate to.
Plus, talking about thematic facets being presented, the film is a cornucopia of the aspects we’d expect in a film about this particular topic, but again written so cleverly in order to then be executed effectively as it applies to the two main characters we’re watching–and it makes sense! Notions of initial flirtations paired with the playfulness of first moments of physical contact and the warmth felt through it ( just beautifully artistic and witty HOW it’s portrayed!) then gets paired with explorations of patriarchal ideas, being stuck in one’s ways, possessing a “take it or leave it” mentality, love definitively needing to be a TWO-way street, being open vs. guarded with emotions, being compared to others and the subsequent “I’m not LIKE them!” ideas, being someone of depth and seriousness in commitment as opposed to shallow infatuation, and the hesitations felt through having been hurt before all get screen time here with familiar and necessary resolve.
To top it off, the film’s finale may not necessarily be what you’d expect, but it also lends a fully convincing credibility to the narrative, providing another layer to the project’s connective tissue which we should gravitate to as the viewer in even comparing it all to our own travails and triumphs in the quest for that ideal match. The music score here likewise adds to the whimsical atmosphere as well, accompanying the fanciful nature of everything without being overly intrusive. Voiceover acting always has its challenges in this critic’s opinion, as let’s face it, the actors must make their impressions sans ANY literal visual facial or body language-based opportunities, rather having to embody the character they’re giving life to on screen and imbue them with a legitimately likable and interesting personality that will draw you in and KEEP you there for the duration of the film, even IF the runtime happens to only be SEVEN minutes!
Well, I felt Arthur and Vernon worked perfectly as a tag-team here and provided precisely the kind of dynamic mandatory to make this avant-garde narrative work correctly through their respective roles a Vernell the Vine, a growing and coquettish vine on a venture to discover love and Frank the Fence (no, not the CRIMINAL kind, peeps! Sheesh. LOL), a sturdy, virtually immovable object who enjoys Vernell’s advances, but like many a guy, still has reservations about pairing with her despite his openness to do so. Even as Vernell paints herself as “the vine to get to know and find love with” because she’s true and not just some “creeper” (sorry, had to say it once!), Frank tries to gain her affections yet still comes across as a typical barricade, afraid to be opened up. As the pair wax on about their mutual worthiness, whether it WILL all equal lasting companionship remains in question.
The actual effortlessness of the duo’s performances reflects the pure authenticity being portrayed and therefore lends both the high-spirited and more subdued angles and objectives the film chooses to address with poise and charismatic grace. Not trying to sensationalize anything by wording all of this in the manner I am, because when it comes to the passion for the ART of filmmaking these indie artists put forth, it’s consistently worth lauding. To me, it proves it doesn’t HAVE to BE some Oscar-level project, warrant massive budgets, or be filled with what the world defines as “A-list” talent in order to be GREAT and APPLICABLE to real life like so many of the community’s efforts, especially on a level we normal human beings can find association with. So, in total, “V & F” is simply grass roots indie film making its best efforts to entertain and touch lives with its messages in a way that one hopes will be taken to what is missing lately and so essentially crucial to have re-emerge–HEART.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
