SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2022 REVIEW! Imagine that you love pasta, so much so that it is the only thing you can think and talk about. However, when your friend makes pasta and brings it to you, you refuse to try it. This is a situation very similar to what Vincent (screenwriter Hugo de Sousa) is experiencing in The Event, directed by Frank Mosley and de Sousa. Vincent wants to know why the event of a lifetime is constantly evading his best friend Jack (Frank Mosley). Finally, the friends duke it out at two o’clock in the morning, but will this do them any good?
Short films can be a wonderful way for talented writers, directors, and actors to shine brightly and showcase their talents to the world. The film sees just that come into play, as de Sousa and Mosley prove themselves in every part of the production. The 11-minute short relies heavily on emotion in scenarios that, on the surface, may not appear relevant, but the filmmakers’ ability to create unique situations that translate well and ultimately connect is impeccable.
Even in the silliest, most unlikely situations, I felt a connection to how passionate these characters are. The relatability begins at the top, with de Sousa’s original script navigating the nuances of reality and eventually blossoming into something beautiful through the way de Sousa and Mosley express their emotions in The Event. Through the intimacy of the characters’ connection to one another, viewers are able to see parts of themselves in this story and these people.
“…the friends duke it out at two o’clock in the morning…”
There’s a darkness that transcends the totality of the short film, and it plays a significant role in how one will receive it. Hugo de Sousa and Frank Mosley have a complete and purposeful insight into how light, or rather its absence, can guide their story and promote understanding of the content overall. The added juxtaposition of light and dark provides clarity and depth to an already intriguing tale of friendship and betrayal.
The question “why?” is one that has haunted the world and its inhabitants forever. Like a child that has just learned to talk, the world constantly wants to know why things are happening the way they are, and that is a heavy cross to bear. Vincent is plagued with this question, which haunts him consistently throughout his day. This struggle with the question and its ever-elusive answer is one with which everyone can connect. Sure, the situation at the heart of The Event is unique, but Vincent’s plight will resonate with viewers everywhere.
With the filmmakers’ abilities to manipulate light, understand human emotion, and ultimately capture the essence of life itself, their short film should take the world by storm. What de Sousa and Mosley are able to accomplish is to manipulate this small-scale scenario into one that resonates with viewers all over the world, from all walks of life. The Event is a breathtakingly unique trip through the human psyche, and we can all learn a lesson or two from what the film has to say.
"…a breathtakingly unique trip through the human psyche..."
