Conversation(s) With Other Women
Hans Canosa
A man and a woman meet at a wedding reception in New York City. They seem to be strangers flirting with each other, but as the evening, and their conversation, progresses, you learn that the two of them have a history together.
Director Hans Canosa and and his regular collaborator, writer Gabrielle Zevin, have chosen very unusual treatments for this simple story. Crucial information is withheld from the audience and is only released in tantalising dribs and drabs. However, it doesn't come across as a flashy gimmick but rather, reflects the narrowing distance between the couple over the course of the night.
What took some getting used to was the split-screen technique. It was jarring at first but it achieved an extremely intimate portrayal of these two people. This would not be possible without the utterly natural and fearless performances of Helena Bonham Carter (Charlie And The Chocolate Factory) and Aaron Eckhart (Thank You For Smoking).
The gorgeously evocative soundtrack with its generous helping of Carla Bruni, clearly a labour of love, didn't hurt either.
At the end of the film, we are left with an intriguing image - a split-screen scene of the two of them in two separate cabs. Then the two halves join up and they are sitting in the same cab, but the distance between them is greater than ever.
It was the rarest of big screen moments - a special effect shot with emotional resonance.
(ST)