A woman (Kseniya Rappoport) is driving down the road when she sees a familiar face, the face of a man that she knew from before. She decides that the best course of action is to pick up this man (João Farina)–but where they go from there is challenging. While good intentions may sit on the surface, the things that follow are wild, and they are sure to change the trajectory of each of these individuals’ lives. My Eyes tells the story of small decisions snowballing into something massive.
In this slow, intimate telling of love, lust, passion, and more, viewers see a darkness roll in and take over My Eyes as the film progresses. In the early going, a darkness lurks, and it plays a role in setting up the tone of the film–but the physical darkness that comes later solidifies all that viewers had believed would come of the film. I don’t think that at any point the things that occur are surprising to viewers, but I’m also not sure that they are supposed to be a surprise. The score and the darkness that transcend the entirety of the film make it clear what to expect–and I genuinely appreciate that about My Eyes. I like that it’s relatively straightforward, and that the majority of the things that take place throughout this short film don’t feel out of place or like a surprise in any way.
My Eyes is a film that is incredibly sexually charged, and while much of the film doesn’t depict sex, those sexual undertones are always understood, always waiting to make their way into the light. What’s interesting is that I’m not entirely sure that the sex is necessary in order for the film to be successful–but it still manages to add something. While there were probably other ways to convey the emotions present in the film, or to reel in viewers–Writer-Director Tommaso Acquarone chose to use it as a device to convey emotion anyway. Again, it works! The sexual tension that exists throughout, and the way in which Acquarone brings it to life is unique. It doesn’t take away from the rest of the narrative, it only adds to it, adding another dimension to the film, and giving viewers another reason to appreciate this intimate story.
There are a lot of moving parts in such a simple film. It’s hard to pick one thing about My Eyes that I love above the rest, but I think it’s the intimacy that exists throughout that appeals to me the most. Director of Photography Andrea Benjamin Manenti creates this feel from beginning to end–as he gets up close and personal in a car throughout. We, as viewers, are incredibly close to everything that happens throughout My Eyes–and that’s as a result of Manenti and his team being able to squeeze into ridiculously small places to get just the right shot, the perfect angle, etc. In a film that seems so simplistic on the outside, this team accomplishes so much.
Setting the tone early and often throughout My Eyes is the key to the film’s success. The score, lighting, and cinematography come together in order to create something brilliant. Sometimes it’s hard to articulate what exactly makes a film great, but here in My Eyes it’s incredibly obvious. Each piece of this puzzle works magnificently–and My Eyes becomes a touching, intimate piece of cinema as a result.
Written & Directed by Tommaso Acquarone.
Starring Kseniya Rappoport & João Farina.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
Comments