Grabbing a cab late one night on a desolate road, a woman is confronted by a cab driver, seemingly, on the edge of breaking down. As she feels a sense of unease, the woman begins to question the driver's true intent and searches for a way out of the awkward encounter. However, things are not always so simple, and the two learn a greater lesson about each other during their brief encounter.
“Necessity of Life” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
“Necessity of Life” digs in its heels to open with one of the most uncomfortable interactions between a cab driver and his passenger. Excelling at creating an instant sense of tension, the short film spends the majority of its time locked in this awkward interaction – placing the viewer beside in the backseat with the concerned woman. Consequently, the opening tone and atmosphere elicits a rather visceral reaction, which segue-ways into the, slightly predictable, reveal of the true intention of the driver.
To the viewer, we are aware of a greater depth behind the story, but to the passenger their reason for disdain is understandable as the conversation between the two takes on a tone that can easily interpret the sense of desperation as a threat rather than a plea for being heard. Furthermore, the short addresses the classism felt between the two, with the passenger representing the entitled looking down. To avoid spoilers, even though the conclusion is rather predictable, it does not dull the emotional impact of the final reveal which elicits a compelling picture of personal hardship. Essentially, the strength of the production lies in the build up and execution of that emotional sting through transforming an ominous interaction into an act of charity – simultaneously showing the errors of flash judgement.
Arguably a bit heavy handed in delivery, as the initial impression of the cab driver is of a looming and intimidating figure, the performances of Kiki Narendra as Dodit and Runny Rudiyanti as Tisha are convincing. In particular, Kiki Narendra as the driver makes his shift from desperate and awkward to sincere generosity with ease. Overall, it is fascinating to watch the two performers play off of each other and arrive at a place of sincerity from such a jarring initial confrontation.
Visually, the cinematography of Kevin Rahardjo is rather restrictive by the confines of the vehicle, but the framing of the driver from the view of the woman, a hunched over figure talking desperately, is perfect for capturing the uncertainty of his intentions. The subsequent scenes, both the ones taking place outside and the final reveal, are aptly intimate in capturing the reactions and sorrow of Dodit. Overall, the visuals lack a grandiose to impress the viewer, but compliment the narrative that Rahardjo was trying to craft.
If there is any fault to be found in “Necessity of Life”, it would be in the overall heavy handed approach of framing the cab driver as a villainous figure in the beginning. Arguably, subtlety in his mannerism and overbearing personality would have brought a more nuanced message of trying to be open to understand the character's plight – the woman's fear is understandable with how off-putting he is in his initial portrayal. Regardless, Kevin Rahardjo has crafted a heartwarming, albeit tragic, tale of one of those chance meetings we all experience that bring personal enrichment and remind of us of our humanity – an impressive show of wisdom for such a young filmmaker.
