Split Level is a post-Roe v. Wade dystopian short film from director / co-writer Alvin Case. Exploring a potential future for the U.S., the film depicts a time when there are religious zealots, known as “zeds,” using force to subjugate women. They see women only as baby incubators born to serve men. Women seeking an abortion must leave the country, so the zeds patrol the border with Canada in order to catch them trying to cross. They are paid a bounty for each woman they stop.
One frightened, pregnant teenager hooks up with a resistance movement that operates an underground railroad. She has decided to leave the U.S. entirely rather than live under an authoritarian regime. Two women plan to help her cross into Canada. When they find a mid-point safe house, it appears they are on the brink of getting the girl to freedom when the situation takes an awful, unexpected turn.
“… religious zealots, known as ‘zeds”’ are using force to subjugate women …”
Split Level is light on plot and heavy on symbolic abstract images that drive home the fear and anger of persecuted, dehumanized women. The twist of combining escape with something otherworldly attacking people in the woods creates a uniquely horrifying loss of control. The characters are more archetypes than individuals, resulting in a cautionary fable that shows us where we may be going.
The film is allegorical Science-Fiction, but given the state of the country at the moment it’s not far-fetched to imagine this Handmaid’s Tale nightmare coming true. Case has created a cinematic experience that makes a big impact with a small budget. His original production plan went out the window when one of the cast members backed out at the last minute, so he reworked the script and was able to complete principle shooting in one day. He also borrows a concept from Patrick McGoohan’s The Prisoner BBC show which featured a floating white balloon used by the authority as an enforcement device. Case employs a bright light that similarly chases and subdues its victims, with the outcome unknown. Split Level is experimental cinema with a timely social and political message, in a compelling, but grim, look at one possible future
Learn more at the official Split Level website.
"…A compelling, but grim, look at one possible future"
