WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
First, the Recap:
It’s been stated time and time again–“things are not always as they seem”, We experience life, whether through our careers, personal exploration, or both, keeping in our minds that which meant the most, impacted us the greatest, and left an indelible mark in our souls. Therefore, when we’ve let this go, that thing which maintains its place in our very being, how much harder will it be to revisit, and possibly rekindle, it? The year is 2037, near future, and it’s a world filled with new ideas and refreshed job descriptions for one of the oldest professions on the planet–assassination.
For one of the job’s most consistent hires, Ellis (Josh Burrow), this particular trip brings with it a rush of recollections both soothing and painful, as it involves a certain someone that he more than fell for the last time he was in this place of reminiscence known as Isla de Sombra, the person a woman named Ariadne (Mariela Garriga). Having departed previously on somewhat shaky terms, the reunion of the two brings with it both newly awakened attraction and a undisclosed plan Ellis has involving Ariadne’s husband Richard (Sebastian Doggart). But, what it appears Ellis is there to do could spell disaster for he and Ariadne’s connection, or an even deeper realization and loss.
Next, my Mind:
There’s a surreal beauty to the subdued yet fiery air of unrestrained passion and chemistry between two hearts that constantly simmers below the surface in this 10-minute short film from writer/director/producer/editor Elias Plagianos that is part crime story, part unabated romance, mildly hinted at science fiction, and all engaging character drama that draws the viewer into the tumultuous whirlwind of two people’s lives so drastically impacted by their position in the world. It illustrates the power of memory, the uncertainty of returning to places of meaning, the fervor of reignited feelings, the allure of moments shared, and the harsh realities of personal choice vs. duty and initially broken trust, all of which usher us to a finale that redefines the danger of assumptions and the fatal price paid for forbidden love. The entire execution of the narrative is greatly assisted by the setting it takes place in, as while the island paradise in the story may be fictional, the actual filming location of course was not–Cuba.
Per Plagianos’ own admission, “this independent project was a real adventure–shooting guerilla style on the streets of Centro Havana and being given unprecedented access to locations that have never been seen on film outside of Cuba. Every day was a logistical and political challenge, but it was worth every sleepless night because I don’t think I would have been able to tell this “future noir” any other place in the world”. The visual aesthetic of the film does indeed carry that old-fashioned noir tone and appearance, especially given the moral obscurity of Ellis’ career, which has been molded into an occupation with specific rules, plus the sheer nature of the relationship and magnitude of sexual tension between him and Ariadne, along with more “standard” indicators via usage of contrasting lighting, mirrors, flashbacks, and the nighttime shadows of real Cuban streets standing in for Isla de Sombra, old taxis and all. It’s contemporary noir, but fits the framework nonetheless, and it gives the film nuances that add a realism and genuineness to the events that give it its more grounded, human relatability. Cap it off with the beautiful and emotive original music score from Jay Lifton, and you have the total package here.
Burrow presents both confident strength and subtle fallibility in his portrayal of Ellis, who is what we assume to be a hard as stone individual with the demeanor and overall outlook on life to match given his trade. Yet, what we see instead are a multitude of moments as he revisits an old job location that have softened him, putting him in a visible state of subtle vulnerability that belies his actual manner while also getting a jarring bump into actuality via running into an old flame while there, which only puts him in an even more unguarded state of being as they reconnect and share time together filled with emotions both hostile and longing seeing how their last experience together concluded. But, as would be expected, the inevitable time comes where Ariadne questions him about his current reasons for being back in Isla de Sombra, and in a instance of revelation that seems clearly defined by both of them, Ellis makes a move that yields unanticipated results, putting a severe damper on the couple’s still illicit reconcilement, and becoming a lesson in trust they never had and perhaps now never will. It’s a wonderful enactment that runs a gamut of intensity, and Burrow plays it to a “T” with understated bravado.
Garriga delivers a character both stunningly beautiful yet undeniably dangerous in her own right and ways in playing Ariadne, a woman from Ellis’ past with whom he had an ill-advised affair the last time his work brought him to Isla de Sombra. Her recall of the morning he left remains cemented in her mind like a painful bruise, a hurt that has never gone away and perhaps leaving a sense of betrayal after giving Ellis her whole self, body and soul, and then being told trust was an issue. With the passage of time, her inner wounds appear not to have healed, but she has chosen to carry on with her actual husband Richard and live under the realization of his criminality. But, the pull of her overt adoration for Ellis has been sustained and so in seeing him again after so much time, despite her resentments associated with their original parting, it is a fire that cannot be quenched and the dynamics of mutual need and desire resurface amidst the underlying strain between them even as she also gleans what mission he has returned to carry out. It’s another exercise in being muted yet filled with intelligently skillful earnestness, and Garriga’s performance exemplifies this with effectiveness and engaging ease.
The primary supporting turn arrives through Doggart as Richard, the criminally-inclined husband of Ariadne who is the presumed target of Ellis. Additional appearances are made by Roxana Broche Gonzalez and Gilberto Espino. In total, “Sombra City” is a richly captivating character drama that pulls you in and immerses you in the lives of two people who should have never been together to start, were parted, then brought back together, made to face not only their respective pasts, but the ramifications of the present and the lessons of love’s convictions and whether they can overcome the obstacle of misunderstanding.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
