We live in a society where if something breaks, we buy a new one. Maybe you attempt to watch a YouTube tutorial on how to fix it, and then pay someone to fix it, and then end up having to buy a new one anyway. With technology advancing exponentially, the new model is always desired whether it be our phones, computers, cars, or even relationships.
In writer/director Lukas Galle’s comedy short The Fridge, Walter (Franz Weichenberger) and Brenda’s (Dagmar Kutzenberger) refrigerator are on the fritz. Brenda suggests Walter fix it himself, but of course, Walter takes the easy way out and buys the latest high-tech fridge to replace the old hunk-o-junk. Once it arrives, however, Walter can’t get the fridge door open.
No matter how many times Walter tries to use the touchscreen that operates the fridge door, it just won’t budge. We are taken on a hilariously heightened journey of Walter’s attempts at prying open, drilling open, shooting open, hacking open, and blowing open of the fridge door.
This brilliantly written and shot short speaks to how we culturally view technology, work, and relationships. Regarding technology, we often find the most appealing products to be “new” and “improved,” whereas some may value “old-fashioned” or “original.” Regarding work, how often do we attempt to take the easy way out or rely on technology to such a detriment that when something does go wrong, we don’t know where to begin to fix the issue?
“Walter can’t get the fridge door open.”
For example, how many times have you simply relied on GPS to get to your destination rather than look up directions before you leave the house. If your phone dies, would you know where to go?
Regarding relationships, we are now entering spoiler-alert territory, so beware. At the end of the film, Walter sits defeated in his kitchen, staring at the new refrigerator, when he sees a picture on the floor that used to hang on their old fridge. It’s a picture of him and his wife on their wedding day. Brenda then enters the kitchen smiling and drops his toolbox in front of him.
Walter smiles back in understanding and they kiss. He decides to take the time to fix the fridge, which ultimately brings him and his wife together. Relationships take work. You may have the urge to opt for the newest “model” or flat out just give up, but there is beauty in mileage, the dents, the scrapes, and replacing of light bulbs, and parts that make up the fridge of life and love.
Not a single line of dialogue is delivered in the film, which is a great lesson for filmmakers that sometimes showing rather than telling is the most effective direction. The Fridge successfully combines over the top comedy with heartfelt emotion without betraying the film’s tone, which we often find modern films struggling to achieve. Highly recommend you watch this five-minute film on YouTube right before you decide whether or not to fix your fridge.
"…successfully combines over the top comedy with heartfelt emotion..."
