WATCH THE FILM HERE
First, the Recap:
Inspiration. Vision. Capturing moments to be forever frozen in time, often via a photographer’s lens. But finding one’s own identity in such a medium can be challenging, as subject matter, perspective, timing, and several other factors can play such a key role in creating the desired images. For New York City-based camera artist Harlan (Pascal Yen-Pfister), motivation and influence for his passion has gone dry, flair and creativity elusive.
Battling forgetfulness and a less than stellar, small apartment life with his wife Allison (Rhea Sandstrom), Harlan attempts to experience his next bout of inventiveness with help from a friend and talent agent, W.D. Frost (Timothy J. Cox). Going out and scouring the city with his camera, Harlan still finds no solace in his predicament. But, later at home when he discovers a fresh muse, events take a decidedly darker and unsettling turn.
Next, my Mind:
Continuing to be amazed at how much can be said in so little time, writer/director Chai Dingari’s 13-minute exposé on the edgier, unpredictable side of human nature and how much we may actually not know about a person is executed quite effectively. More admirably, despite the story’s tragic tone, Dingari manages to cleverly infuse a humorous concept into the primary character’s nature, which ever so slightly lightens the film’s overall tone while maintaining the narrative’s cohesion.
Yen-Pfister’s performance as Harlan is adequately moody, creating a man who seems, at most, sublimely apathetic and down-turned in his lack of initiative and artistry until he finds the needed outlet, though his state of mind then comes into question quite emphatically. Sandstrom’s Allison, for this reviewer, kind of fell a little short, the character’s reactions and emotions perhaps just needing conveyed with a little more certainty. The supporting turn from Timothy J. Cox, as always, was just right in delivery.
In total, “The Misogynist” is a neat little slice of indie short film to enjoy and further take in the realization of just how a solid story can be portrayed in a truncated timeframe.
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
