2023 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
Chloe Cohen (Ellie Sachs) is an aspiring young director that wants nothing more than to make a Proof of Concept short film that depicts the struggles of funding independent short films. Interestingly enough, she’s having trouble funding her independent short film; so she turns to her father, Robert (Richard Kind), and uncle, Eddie (Will Janowitz). While she pitches her film to her father and uncle she seems to raise more questions than she believed she would, and now her project is on life support.
In the most minimalist, meta expression of why it’s so hard to make a film, Writer-Directors Max Cohn and Sachs explore all of the intimate details of what it means to make a film–and the dozens of hoops that need to be jumped through in order just to get its feet off the ground. We are in the midst of both a writers strike and an actors strike–and I’m not sure that Proof of Concept could have come at a better time. Those of us on the outside looking in aren’t able to fully comprehend what’s happening in Hollywood (myself included), and Proof of Concept starts at the bottom and expresses to its viewers the series of things that have to be done before one can even think about making a film. This film sheds a light on the things taking place in the world right now, even if it didn’t mean to.
What’s so appealing about Proof of Concept is that Cohn and Sachs are able to break down the process so effectively that everyone is able to understand. They dive into the idea of funding a project, being credited as a producer, and more–and everything is done in a way that even the dullest minds would be able to comprehend.
Through this meta approach, comedy is developed. From the opening seconds of the film viewers are brought to laughter, and there’s no going back. While I think the intention is ultimately to shed some light on the filmmaking process–Proof of Concept never takes itself too seriously, it never pretends like it has to be overly profound in order to get its point across. It effectively pokes fun at itself throughout the process, and remaining level headed and humorous throughout allows it to continue to be accessible to all. And through this Proof of Concept sort of pokes fun at itself as well. Finding the right filming location is an important part of developing a film, and this trio bounces around from place to place like they have a million dollars to blow on this film. It’s just a bit of additional fun that plays out throughout the course of the film–and while it may be just a bit frumpy, I think that’s intentional.
There’s a lot going on in Proof of Concept, far more than I think most might anticipate. In a short film talking about the process of developing a short film, you’d expect comedy, even a little satire in the process. Viewers get that, but they also get a beautifully made short film that delivers in just about every regard. The cinematography is brilliant, the acting is stellar, and there’s just a dab of emotion buried beneath the surface. It’s all blended together in a way that is easily accessible, a ton of fun, and honest. Proof of Concept just might be one of the best things I’ve seen in a long time.
Written & Directed by Max Cohn & Ellie Sachs.
Starring Richard Kind, Will Janowitz, Ellie Sachs, Willie Zabar, Jair Pimental, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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