The beauty of festivals like the DVX Fests lies in the ability of very talented fimmakers to find so many different and moving ways to interpret the theme.
One of the most surprising and effective interpretations so far is in Chris Messineo’s short film, “Façade.”
“Façade” tells a very simple, very powerful story about betrayal of a unique kind. There are no guns, no shifting alliances, and no convoluted backstory leading to a predictable conclusion. Instead, Messineo’s film has no dialogue, one actress and one location, but offers so much more emotional depth than your average 4-minute film.
Click here to download and view Chris Messineo’s fim “Façade”
As I said, where less mature filmmakers would gravitate to stories about drug deals gone wrong, Messineo instead chooses to tell a simple, but crushing story of self-betrayal. Alexandra Landau, the sole actress of the film, works her way through all the emotions needed to carry the story, and handles every one of them with complete authenticity. Most surprising, to me, was her transition from self-loathing to near-ecstasy before she leaves the sanctuary of the bathroom. This is very powerful and convincing work, and Landau breathes life into the script without ever saying a word.
Without a single line of dialogue, Messineo creatively uses his camera and the original score (by the very talented Herman Witkam) to create all the atmosphere and suspense we could want. The cinematography, by Mark Menditto, is even-handed, and appropriately gives the viewer a sense that this could be any home, any family, and any daughter.
If “Façade” has a shortcoming, it is simply that I would have liked to see a little more about the girl, even just a few hints about who she is and what her circumstances are. Not so much, of course, that it becomes an after-school special, but just enough so that the audience might have more details around which to construct their own ideas about her. Filmmakers should never give us every piece of the puzzle, only enough so that we can imagine what the full picture might be in our own minds.
But the quiet impact and powerful performance driving “Façade” clearly elevates this piece into the top tier of Betrayal Fest entries.
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CAST
Girl: Alexandra Landau
CREW
Writer/Director: Chris Messineo
Assistant Director: Chris Furlong
Director of Photography: Mark Menditto
Original Score: Herman Witkam
