After waking up in a room under quarantine, young girl Tara (Madhurima Ghosh) finds she is being forcefully confined. Adding to the confusion, a speaker and a menu on her dresser table tells her she is currently on a date with an unknown figure. As Tara tries to make sense of her situation in both confinement and the man on the other end who claims to know her, she begins to suffer a mental and physical breakdown.
“#Cafe2022” draws inspiration from the current global situation, which is perhaps the closest modern example of humanity actually experiencing a dystopian reality. This predicament has driven many filmmakers to explore the various social and interpersonal issues that have resulted from the current situation, creating an over saturation on quarantine themed films. However, when a production is able to transcend the newly formed cinematic clichés around confinement, it can become something truly special that strikes a nerve within a current global struggle. Undoubtedly, Sudipto Roy's (“Kia and the Cosmos“) has managed to make a short that approaches global paranoia in an inventive and engaging way.
Given the film takes place in the near future and contains a degree of future tech, it is fair to classify the production as science fiction or speculative fiction. As a result of making it in the near future, the film still reflects the current paranoia, from the compulsion to constantly disinfect to feelings of being able to not leave our ‘safe spaces'. Keeping the film grounded in current reality, it is able to present the idea of future terrors built off of the realism of the current global plight.
Furthering the anxiety brought on through the relevant narrative is an anxiety-inducing soundscape that melds environmental noise with electronic droning. As a result, there is a constant sense of unease being inflicted on Tara as she experiences the disorienting noises along with the viewer. Additionally, with her reason for confinement being vague, the cacophony of sound acts to draw the viewer in to try to find clues within the muffled voices and dialogue. Ultimately, the sound design being Tara's only connection to the outside, becomes an ever present character that creates a deliriously enjoyable sense of dread.
Actor Madhurima Ghosh does an exemplary job of embodying anxiety and confusion within the disorienting situation. Additionally, her performance is heightened under the cinematography of Adris Halder who intimately explores the decline of the protagonist with a close, almost perverse, focus on the young woman's plight. Ultimately, within working with a small cast and crew, the various aspects of production come together in an exemplary way.
“#Cafe2022” captures modern day paranoia and heightens it by presenting a plausible future. Consequently, the short film becomes a sort of cautionary tale, while also presenting an exemplary entry in both the speculative fiction and mystery genre. Ultimately, the short is a rather sublime mix of genres, enhanced by an engaging audio and visual presentation, making for an unforgettable experience.
