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FRIENDS LIKE THESE

Zoran Dragelj / Canada / 53 minutes

 

Synopsis

After Sal’s relationship falls apart, Izzy and June decide to rent a house on an island to get him out of his slump. The girls’ attempt to help their friend results in excessive drinking, late nights, and mild debauchery.

 



 

Grab a blanket and a beer: you’re following this nice trio made of June, Sal and Izzy for a few days of holidays. From the (very good) intro scene, director Zoran Dragelj plays his cards: it is going to be intimist, simple and sincere. With a slight plot and not many frills, what will make the audience believe it and never switch off? « Friends like these » found the solution with two main assets.

First, an accurate writing. The centred-on-3-characters scenario never really digresses. Dialogues are credible and well-balanced, neither too sophisticated nor too silly. Literally, characters can directly talk about their feelings in detail just as well as tell everyday life anecdotes like their favourite meal or the rules of a local game they learnt abroad: you’ll feel involved anyway. Nothing sounds gratuitous, everything contributes to developing the characters and/or what links them. Improvised moments included? That’s what we could think sometimes, as it sounds so natural.

You see what’s coming: to succeed in this accomplishment, the writing has to be served by a strong cast. There again, it’s all good. Josh Romyn, Kiran Madahar and Jillian Zavazal have a great screen presence— individually, as duos, and as an entire group. Co-scenarist David Q. Laurence’s appearance also hits the mark with an excellent secondary character.


The filmmaking remains discreet and appropriate, dedicated to its actors and its intention. Photography will just be pretty and sober, far from any aggressive aestheticism. You won’t pick holes in the technical execution— except rare raw audio cuts on sound level differences, not much to report. Narration makes the audience breathe with a few well-placed musical breaks. Story and emotions perfectly progress as the scenes fly.

On our first viewing, the film’s “comical” dimension didn't prevail. Maybe we were more captivated by the dramatic potential and the quite unexpected (but smart) ending tone. On second viewing, humour has been more palpable indeed. Obviously we were happy to meet again with Sal, June and Izzy.

 

 

Conclusion

A little sweet and humble film that warms your heart. Characters catch us 100% of the time, it’s like being with them. Total achievement!


O.N-P.

 

« Friends like these » joins official selection for the Little Croco Festival’s first edition, nominated in the Comedy category.

 

Trailer:



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