SOUVENIR DRUNK | Omeleto

Two exes meet. Clara and Autry were a couple but broke up when Clara decided to move across the country to New York City for a promotion. But when Autry comes by to pick up some old belongings, they're reminded of their feelings for one another. And as they talk about their lives, hopes, and dreams, they're reminded of why they have to be apart. Directed and written by Jacqueline Postajian, this evocative short romance explores loss, nostalgia, and how feelings have a way of lingering, despite the cold realities and practicalities of life. Shot in gentle, melancholic black-and-white cinematography, the film is reminiscent of classic arthouse filmmakers like Eric Rohmer and Ingmar Bergman, full of long observational passages of people talking, thinking and being. And like its inspirations, it's also about the sly, quiet ways that both connection and conflict slowly arise between people. Starring THE PITT actor Brandon Mendez-Homer and Anya Whelan-Smith, the storytelling is heavy on the dialogue, hewing to the quiet, intimate rhythms between two people who know each other well, in ways that are comforting, affectionate and painful all at once. They're two lovers who have decided to move forward in life separately, with Clara moving to New York and Autry staying behind in the life he knows and is comfortable with. Both actors adroitly convey the weight of their past relationship, as well as their present moment of uncertainty, defensiveness and denial. As they chat about art, books and mutual acquaintances, it becomes clear they still have strong feelings for one another, and the quietly observant, sometimes poetic camera notes the details and gestures between them, from longing glances to loaded questions. Yet loss also suffuses their atmosphere, and their different approaches to it lead to an argument that's relatable to anyone who's ever had a protracted breakup. They have to face how their differences as a Black man and a white woman affect how they go about the business of life; they also have to face some fundamental emotional differences, with Clara wanting to hold onto and cherish her memories, puzzling at how Autry can simply move forward and walk away. It's not so simple, of course, and SOUVENIR DRUNK gets to that fundamental truth: sometimes the relationship is good, but it's just not the right time or place for two people who otherwise love one another. At the end of the film, we get the sense that both characters will move on to rich, interesting futures, but they will always look back at their time together with a kind of wistfulness. Autry says, "Nostalgia is like alcohol. Too much of it dangerously affects your judgment. But it's a comfort whenever you need it." But memories have their own gravity, existing in a time apart from everyday life -- much like the way this nostalgic, contemplative short feels as it unfurls its bittersweet story. SOUVENIR DRUNK. Courtesy of Jacqueline Postajian at https://instagram.com/jacpostaj.