Roufy Nasution is a director that we have repeatedly dealt with his short films in the past, even including them in our best of lists. This time, however, he takes the seat of the scriptwriter, while leaving the direction to Irvan Achmad and Calista Aradea, in a short that revolves around badminton.
“Mental Finger” review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
Sofia and Eky are two friends who have been playing badminton for years, with the latter always emerging as a winner. This time, however, they decide to up the stakes with a bet. Not for money, however, since Eky wants to pinch Sofia's breasts if he wins, and she wants him to pee in front of the classroom if she wins. Surprisingly, they both agree, even if Sofia considers the whole thing a harassment, and the game begins.
Achmad and Aradea direct a 12 minute short that revolves around the aforementioned badminton game, but is essentially an accusation towards male toxic behavior, with Eky's insistence that he cannot lose from a woman and the bet he places highlighting the fact quite eloquently. The game itself is a true pleasure to watch, since the contrast of sentiments as the upper hand changes owner, the struggle of the two, the trash talking and the fighting regarding a point are all here, just a like an actual match.
At the same time, and after the fighting regarding the whether the shuttlecock passed the line, the roles change completely, with Sofia becoming the aggressor, hitting Eky where it hurts the most (pun intended) highlighting that men may be physically stronger, but women can easily get the upper hand verbally. At the same time, the explicitness of the comments both utter is quite hilarious to watch, adding to the overall humoristic approach of the short, which is cemented with the not-so-mental finger.
Check this review of a Roufy Nasution film
Also of note here is the cinematography, with Dimas Febriand using some very interesting techniques, as the shot from below and the framing of the two contestants before the match, where a single column is implemented as a dichotomy. At the same time, the capturing of the match is as entertaining as possible, with Reihan Azhar's frequent cuts also helping in that regard.
“Mental Finger” is a thought-provoking and entertaining short film that skillfully explores gender dynamics and toxic behavior through the lens of a badminton match. With strong performances, effective direction, and clever cinematography, the film delivers a powerful message while keeping the audience engaged and entertained.
