On their way to the airport, a young couple begins to discuss their future plans, aware of the fact that this may be their last ride together as one of them embarks on a new chapter in their life. Trying to force a connection and give words to their fears, the trip causes both of them into a contemplation of how, if at all, they can share a future.
“A Boring Couple Conversation” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
Taking a candid approach, “A Boring Couple Conversation” uses the single location of a driving car to capture a conversation between a young couple at a turning point in their life. Playing on the film's title the conversation is, in fact, dull – dialogue that only holds weight to the characters and not deviating too far from regular conversations any couple will have experienced. Consequently, the short captures the nuance of everyday life with a focus on creating a believable and sincere interaction between two people. In this regard, the project is a success in its ability to sell itself on simplistic charm, all captured in the intimate detail with a single shot premise. Throw in a quirky dance number, and few will argue that Hafidz Nur Rahmadi has created an endearing tale of everyday occurrences. Unfortunately, beyond the inviting premise and script, the film becomes bogged down in inexperience and poor technical execution.
From opening credits, being presented in an off-putting yellowish tint, it is apparent there is a lack of understanding in visual presentation. This dreary tint extends to the car itself, which makes up the bulk of production, and begins to further show its limitation. Not entirely insulting to the senses, the single shot from inside the vehicle is still rather mundane, with odd focal points that make it difficult to stay invested in the conversation. Furthermore, a poor sound design forces a further disconnect as two people side by side sound like they are in different rooms. Distracting would be putting it lightly, as the short is almost rendered inapproachable by its awkward execution, which is unfortunate, considering the script gives the film a solid foundation only to be drowned out by a slew of technical shortcomings.
Under such clouded and stilted visuals, it is really difficult to offer much praise towards any of the performances. Add to this the age of the actors, and it shows that Galih Rama & Serly Ardiana were also slightly out of their depth here. However, to their credit, a single shot take on the road is an impressive feat in itself and the scene where the two let loose is a pretty joyous sequence that breathes some much-needed levity into the production. Regardless, the performances are rather stilted due to the methods used and general lack of direction, being left to their own discretion when recording their scene in the car.
“A Boring Couple Conversation” is not without its redemptive qualities, as buried as they are, as the project contains a confident script that understands the hopes and concerns of youth moving forward into an uncertain world. As such, there is still reason to put some faith behind Hafidz Nur Rahmadi and crew to make something noteworthy. Unfortunately, this project is, objectively, not going to be that film to build that reputation.
