I heard of this movie on my college campus many times until it took on the status of an urban myth for my particular campus. When I stumbled upon a copy of the film, naturally, I was eager to see it. And I was impressed.
Several Duke students under the direction of Steve Zapotoczny hammered together this film with less than thirty thousand dollars. The fact that the film exists at all is quite a feat.
SPOILER: It is a story about life-long friends, Todd and Costen, separated by Todd's sudden death. It is about what brings us together and how we cope when relationships must end.
After Todd's death, Costen cannot cope and he only finds solace talking with Todd's girlfriend. Soon their
mutual solace grows into something more and this becomes another source of pain. The film is narrated by Costen to a camera while he toys with a gun in his hand, seeking any kind of relief.
Sure, there is hokey dialogue and there are contrived plot lines in abundance, but the main actors and especially the film makers do a laudable job in this student film. And as you watch it, it does grab you, you are interested in the character's fates. The emotions seem much more valid than other larger budgeted pieces in the same genre. At the end of the film, you have to give it the benefit of the doubt and be impressed
what these film makers manage with such a small budget. It captures the zeitgeist of Duke campus in the late nineties.
I seriously doubt any one reading this will have a chance to watch this movie but all of the errors in the film are errors of experience and not errors in judgment or taste. In short, it is a rough gem (sometimes very rough). If you happen to find a copy - watch it.
Several Duke students under the direction of Steve Zapotoczny hammered together this film with less than thirty thousand dollars. The fact that the film exists at all is quite a feat.
SPOILER: It is a story about life-long friends, Todd and Costen, separated by Todd's sudden death. It is about what brings us together and how we cope when relationships must end.
After Todd's death, Costen cannot cope and he only finds solace talking with Todd's girlfriend. Soon their
mutual solace grows into something more and this becomes another source of pain. The film is narrated by Costen to a camera while he toys with a gun in his hand, seeking any kind of relief.
Sure, there is hokey dialogue and there are contrived plot lines in abundance, but the main actors and especially the film makers do a laudable job in this student film. And as you watch it, it does grab you, you are interested in the character's fates. The emotions seem much more valid than other larger budgeted pieces in the same genre. At the end of the film, you have to give it the benefit of the doubt and be impressed
what these film makers manage with such a small budget. It captures the zeitgeist of Duke campus in the late nineties.
I seriously doubt any one reading this will have a chance to watch this movie but all of the errors in the film are errors of experience and not errors in judgment or taste. In short, it is a rough gem (sometimes very rough). If you happen to find a copy - watch it.
