WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
Inquiring minds want to know–even when it’s really none of their business. Can it not be stated that there’s a fine line between learning about others involuntarily vs. intentionally, more so when it comes to their private lives? Even when it might be the former OR latter, what is our overall fascination with needing to discover precisely what is going on, and what roads will it lead us down, whether to our detriment–or unexpected benefit? In a far-too-thin-walled NYC apartment building, a couple named Thea (Adina Verson) and Charlie (Michael Braun) have a decidedly–unique–issue with noisy neighbor Troy (Hans Berlin), whose constant engagement with amorous pursuits remains a loud and borderline cloying annoyance. Yet, as time goes on and their curiosity starts to take over, Thea and Charlie’s search for answers may reveal more than they ever wished to know–but with unanticipated ramifications.
Next, my Mind:
Bold, unflinchingly candid, darkly comedic, and irrevocably, almost unsettlingly relatable, this 16-minute indie short film from writer/director Mike Donahue, writers Dane Laffrey and Jen Silverman, producer Evan Jonigkeit, and associate producer Jean Louise O’Sullivan delivers its foundational messages of privacy, the subsequent, if not absolutely intentional, invasion of it, and the ensuing, surprising consequences with a level of impact that should at minimum draw some deserved, perhaps even a LITTLE comically shift-uncomfortably-in-your-seat, attention when it screened as a selection for the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and has now qualified for the 2023 Oscars. It continues to be apparent for this critic that the unabashed fearlessness and fortitude found amongst the community of filmmakers residing within independent cinematic realms to tackle virtually ANY subject for the sake of entertainment, yet also so consistently infuse the works with pertinent, fully realized, and often timely cultural/societal relevancy, is a standard, core focus which gives the genre as a whole its still so often overlooked worthiness and need to gain higher respect and acclaim.
Here, we’re entreated to quite the raw, overtly obvious, and admittedly witty narrative that initially begins with a couple who find that their NYC apartment neighbor has a certain level of–stamina– when it comes to his seemingly endless, LOUDLY intimate encounters that creates awkward annoyance for both them and anyone they might attempt to have over. Yet, what becomes the primary point of both building (albeit dark) hilarity and unequivocal provocativeness is the ultimate shift from what appears to be nothing more than a decidedly creepy obsession turning into a completely unforeseen level of profound sentimentality and compassion, a compelling exploration of feasibly viable, genuine human connection even in the most blatantly compromising and delicate of situations. How the narrative manages to wind its way through the basic complexities of the circumstances depicted is a solid testament to the writing and direction presented, delivering a finale that is a beautiful combination of humor and heart.
Also, and as mentioned above, it is also an exercise in the fundamentals of our sometimes-morbid fascination with other people’s lives and wanting to know more about them paired with the lengths we’ll go to do so, especially in view of dysfunction or, let’s be honest and transparent in this film’s context, perverse curiosity. I felt the whole concept of everything from social media to the internet overall are put on display in that there ARE so many means these days TO extract information about people, and how that’s interwoven into this tale is revealing and most certainly awareness-raising, even when being played for laughs. It speaks deeply to both our innate nosiness as well as our penchant for NOT always considering HOW given actions we engage in, once more on BOTH sides of the facets in play throughout the film, might be noticed or scrutinized, much less exposed, and how THAT can have a result that may not always be to ANYONE’S benefit while still leaving an indelible mark on us regardless.
Verson and Braun make up the first part of the primary cast via their respective characters of Thea and Charlie, a very normal “everycouple” (as I shall term it!) living in an NYC apartment who have a highly distinct issue to try and manage each day (and night!) thanks to the FAR too thin walls of their residence–the very resoundingly rowdy emanations they most definitely didn’t ask for coming from their neighbor Troy’s consistent intimacies. An irritation without question, Thea and Charlie try about everything to ignore it, but between friends and family coming over who also hear it, it soon comes down to confronting it. Yet, when this proves to be more challenging than expected, they start asking around and digging into Troy’s life, experiencing the consequences of this that could be both bad and good. I absolutely adore how Verson and Braun so innocently, credibly, and effectively portray the sheer embarrassment, uncertainty, timidness, attempted resolve, and then release their characters encounter while making the efforts to see their plight come to a close, and it’s the actor’s grounded performances that lend the believability to all the nuances the film delves into.
Berlin, who is an adult film performer in real life, is therefore a far more than adequate choice to embody the bane of his neighbor’s existence via his role as Troy, who VERY much makes his presence HEARD a lot more than seen thanks to the sexual endeavors he is quite adept at bringing upon himself–ALL the time! But, even as his obliviousness to how he’s affecting those around him is maintained, the catalyst that ends up shaking up his reality adds an interesting layer to the events, and again, LISTENING more than seeing, how this impacts Troy is well-played by Berlin over the course of the proceedings. Primary supporting turns arrive through Dylan Baker as a “strange man” who comes to visit Troy, Max Jenkins and Phillip James Brannon as Nico and Leo, friends of the couple whom they turn to for some advice, Pooya Mohseni as a friend of the couple, Dana Delany as Dee, Thea’s equally–inquisitive–mother, Kristin Villanueva as Lou, Charlie’s sister, Samantha Sherman as another neighbor having her own dilemma about Troy’s activities, and Billy Carter as Billy, a man roped into the predicament.
So, in total, “Troy” acts as a cautionary tale in the course of the dark joviality and unconventional, utterly unforeseen degree of stirring sentimentality the film ends up conveying, all to shine that light as only indie cinema can, placing that knowing and purposeful magnifying glass onto our human nature in the framework of these contemporary times, our insecurities, our curiosities, and our nagging “need to know”, even when it isn’t always appropriate, that we could end up finding that better understanding from what we learn from it all.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
