It is billed as a romance and a comedy, but Two steps away fails at both. There is no romance, just a creepy dude staring creepily at an attractive young lady. I get that Fabbro was trying to recreate the blush of new love, but what he actually shot was the first day of a stalker. And I was under the impression that comedies are meant to be funny. On some level, there is supposed to be at least some humor. Now perhaps his humor is just more sophisticated and subtle than I am used to. Or perhaps he has no gift for it. In either case, he failed to elicit from me even a smile, let alone a laugh.
Two steps away is a short film that just barely meets all the requirements of visual storytelling. It is a vague copy of a better artist and a disappointing start to a career. It is a romance without romance and a comedy without comedy. And since it has managed to get into a lot of festivals, and even win some, I am left with two possible conclusions. Either the competition wasn’t very strong in these festivals, or I am completely wrong, and it is a work of genius. If it is the latter well, it wouldn’t be the first time.
"…tells the story of young love in the gauzy haze of a California spring afternoon"
