There is something bewitching about writer-director Cameron Medford-Hawkins’ Another Day in Buenoseres, which he co-created with producer and director of photography Benjamin Scrase. The 12-and-a-half-minute short is a sickly sweet cocktail of old-school Western and interplanetary science fiction with an unexpected dash of the arcane. But what’s most enchanting is how the genres coalesce into a vividly realized visual style.
Iron Gus (Jason Bailey) is a gunslinger who is supernaturally indentured to a local fixer named Bishop (Kirris Riviere). Having to complete one last assignment to win his freedom, Gus is tasked with hunting down one of Bishop’s debtors. But to do so, he must travel to the infamously unsavory saloon Buenoseres.
“…Gus is tasked with hunting down one of Bishop’s debtors.”
From the very first frame, Another Day in Buenoseres impresses. Its style is scintillating. The sets and costumes are beautifully done. The camera moves with intention. Thanks to meticulous aesthetics, the filmmaker conveys a well-realized world in only a few seconds. Likewise, the characters are all well-integrated into the greater world.
The one shortcoming, however, is the pacing. While the story — and even the title — telegraphs itself as slice-of-life viewing, the plot tries to cover too much ground in too little time. This has the unfortunate effect of flattening the characters somewhat. Restraint in this area would have allowed the script to dig even deeper into what had already been established so skillfully.
And yet, any missteps do not take away from how much quality is achieved. Another Day in Buenoseres is a visual feast filled with interesting characters.
"…From the very first frame, Another Day in Buenoseres impresses."
