"Emotional Motor Unit", aside from what at first seems like an unusual title, on many levels is such an interesting piece of fiction. The general story is nothing terribly new, but that doesn't mean it's not a fresh take on an old genre. Enough originality exists within the 22 minutes to easily separate itself from the sea of like minded plot lines. The real interest here, directed by Adam Nelson, is contained within the vision of the flick itself. A clinically whitewashed future that on the surface seems neat and tidy, yet just below is a real mess. Although not shown directly, it almost feels as if the majority of freedoms we all take for granted have been abolished, replaced with a wide variety of drugs to keep us complacent. Writer Xènia Puiggrós allows us to enter a world where daily doses of said drugs are handed out by "The Company", to control our every mood, all the time. This includes the privilege of feeling the way we feel, when we feel it, and for how long. Other "not cool" future elements that are referenced are: the air being nasty, a reference to war in the form of "arms production", and the general sterilized look of the sets themselves. In essence, "Emotional Motor Unit" plays off like a place I would never want to live. Even with the cool tech that must be contained within. As much as emotions can hurt sometimes, a world without them, or where they are controlled seems inhuman. Which, by the way, is a great parallel to contrast the E.M.U, Emotional Motor Unit. A machine to bring back the humanity of a person, even if only for a short time. That's one of those little things that make this short film so interesting. The technical elements of this production leave me very little to complain about. Especially for an indie film, everything is actually done quite nicely. From production straight through to the actual edit itself. A nice job in post pushes the narrative forward nicely, especially with the drab color grade that helps enhance the clinical environment. Graham Cawte and Francesca Burgoyne shine and compliment one and other as the leads, and even the supporting cast do a fantastic job in their respective roles. As I wrote, technically, there's not much to complain about. What I would have liked to see is maybe a little more imagination put into the tech of the age; even though it never specifies any particular time in the future. Could be 5 years from now for all I know! However, with the technology required to create the E.M.U. alone, I would expect "Emotional Motor Unit" to take place well into the future. The hardware showcased in the film looks exactly like the gear of today. I understand this is a low/no budget production, but some imagination would have really... really enhanced this film. So that's it. My humble thoughts on "Emotional Motor Unit" and why I highly recommend checking this one out when you get the chance. Sure. You may have a good idea in your head of the overall plot; just not the small things that make this truly interesting. Throw in some good acting, some good points made about our slowly changing society, and a nice flow overall - and you've pretty much summed up this film. I'm always happy when I'm surprised by a title that I assume will be mediocre. Nothing mediocre here. Nice work cast and crew. -MC
