“The Residents” is a quirky short, one which adds a salad-bowl of characters into a cramped apartment and allows them to squabble over who the rightful owner is. Debuting at the Osaka Asian Film Festival, this quick-witted comedy is bound to gain attention.
“The Residents” is screening at Across Asia Film Festival
Generally, the film revolves around the outlook of Kotaro Sasaki, the most confused and least hospitable of the overpacked apartment. Donning a suit, he is set for a job interview but cannot find his picture, and finds himself increasingly frustrated at the constant stream of new identities he is forced to stumble upon. However, a sobering twist will soon set straight who these people, as well as himself, really are.
It is a consistent affair, with director Kahori Higashi settling for a slapdash, yet somewhat restrained, style. People do not needlessly speak over each other, and the dialogue gets a welcome chance to breathe in spite of the sweaty location. Furthermore, the revelation at the end is not a silly, or predictable twist, but rather an understandable and intriguing spin on the narrative. The characters here are all refreshingly individual too, ranging from hostess bar workers, to the happily unemployed, to a man with dreams of marrying his girlfriend.
Continuing, with such a limited runtime, and such a breakneck pace, it could be quite difficult for the acting to stand out. Yet, everyone from Toma Hirose to Shinoka Mashimi all afford their depictions a degree of memorability, even if it only comes from a subtle facial expression, or an interesting line delivery.
Technically, everything is solid too, with the cramped apartment having a palpable air of closeness to it, and a familial feel even though these people are supposedly strangers. It is bright, yet still claustrophobic, making it appear authentic and investable.
Overall, “The Residents” is a zippy 16-minute short which hits a lot of the right notes. Benefiting from its fast pacing, it may well be worth checking this one out when it airs.
