directed by:
Gregory Alexander Foltynowicz written by: Gregory Alexander Foltynowicz genre: Drama |
Relationships are complicated. It surely doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. They ebb and flow, they are the very definition of simple - yet quickly get ridiculously complicated. Perhaps they actually do take a rocket scientist to figure out - or perhaps no amount of smarts could ever truly grasp the more complex emotional aspects at play. With that written, let me also add that filmmaker Gregory Alexander Foltynowicz has created a beautiful short film that attempts to demonstrate some of the more complex issues of a relationship. And it's also worth noting that to its credit, "Facades" doesn't attempt to simplify things at all. This short film is just as metaphorical, just as abstract, as the relationship it examines. I can think of no better way to demonstrate the random complexities of the subject matter, with something just as randomly complex.
So, you're probably asking yourself one question. If this film is so random in nature, how can you tell it's even about a relationship, or relationships in general? That's the real beauty of this short film - its ability to clearly define what it's all about, but still remain ambiguous enough to easily demonstrate what is hard to... well... demonstrate. The symbolism is all in place, we quickly know and understand the point of the film - we also know exactly what the filmmaker is getting at. Most of the time. For a film so short on length, to tackle such questions, is no small task. To succeed at such a challenging task... easily deserves a round of applause. From me it definitely got one. Interestingly enough, "Facades" is definitely not perfect - but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The imagery and visual metaphors can, and do become a little murky. A little open in the sense they could be looked at in numerous different ways. But again, this isn't a deal-breaking observation. Relationships themselves are hard to define, confusing, and open to interpretation. Foltynowicz's film is artsy, and that confusing aspect could be viewed as a way to add to those feelings of chaos within a relationship. Ultimately, it all hinges on what the viewer themselves are looking for. This is not a point A to point B kind of film.
Where this is no question, is the ability "Facades" has to show itself excellently. There can be no debate that the visuals are striking, the score fits perfectly, and the dialog-free acting from the cast fit the mood perfectly. From a production standpoint? "Facades" holds itself high and mighty. It easily allows whoever is watching to slip in and take away what they will. This is one of those films that is easy to get lost in, even if you don't quite grasp everything being shown. At the end of the day? "Facades" ends up being much more than a quick diversion. This is a short film that offers up an excellent aesthetic to fall into, but would also be very easy to debate and discuss long after the credits roll. Artsy and experimental? Yes, yes it is. But also just standard enough not to alienate those not fully into the genre. Here's a short film most definitely worth the time, at least for me. Easily a four star venture. |