In a normal home in suburbia a happy couple, John (Timothy J. Cox) and his wife (Misti Dawn Garritano), live together. With things like faulty toilets, laundry, and peanut butter sandwiches leading the way through a very typical life, the couple must lean on one another for happiness, guidance, and support. But, are the two truly happy, or are they in Denial?
Three minutes. Three minutes is all that directors Garritano and Mackenzie Leigh Barmen give themselves to bring their vision to life. Seemingly, however, that’s all that they needed. Denial is simple and subtle, never extending itself too far or attempting to reach insurmountable goals. Barmen and Garritano just want to express to their viewers what a day in the life of the average American couple is, and they do just that. In the three short minutes the two in charge of this film create what I would describe as satire.
I recently came across a saying: “The average life expectancy is 78 years, while the retirement age is 67. We work for 50 years to be free for 11.” This is so incredibly true, and Denial almost mirrors this sentiment. It shows a couple who, regardless of what other interesting things they may do on occasion, struggles with the reality that life can be bland and repetitive. That’s a sad reality in which this young couple lives, but the truth is that’s the case around America. We bust our butts on a regular basis--whether it’s at a nine-to-five job or the never-ending projects at home. Denial is begging for a change; asking those watching to reconsider their lives and enjoy them while they still can. I love this! While I suppose one might not expect a deep emotional response while watching Denial, the fact of the matter is that seeing your life slowly drifting away while we sit idly by is heartbreaking, and Denial helps to develop these emotions as viewers watch.
The cinematography is unique. Denial, at times, exists through a series of quick flashes, helping to depict the monotony of everyday life. Those quick jumps through time (only seconds at a time) capture the emotion of the characters present in the film, and viewers are almost sucked into what the film has to offer as a result. Again, Denial is simple, but the reality is that the cinematography captures the essence of what Garritano and Barmen are trying to convey.
Along with the simplicity of the storytelling, the acting is just as simple. Both Cox and Garritano are tasked with echoing the sentiment of life--something that everyone watching has experienced at some point. This is certainly a tall task, but the two actors are up for it. Denial sees both actors convey contentment and stress, resonating with viewers and allowing the film’s message to exist vividly throughout the production.
Denial is something we’ve all seen before--not necessarily in film, but in the real world. That allows viewers to appreciate the words being uttered on screen and all of the emotion that was poured into Denial. Again, just three minutes is all Garritano and Barmen afford themselves, but that’s honestly all that they need. I’m impressed by every aspect of Denial and genuinely appreciate the message it is able to convey.
Directed by Mackenzie Leigh Barmen & Misti Dawn Garritano.
Written by Misti Dawn Garritano.
Starring Misti Dawn Garritano & Timothy J. Cox.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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