Bis Gleich

German short film Bis Gleich was the closing selection for the Manhattan Short Film Festival, as well as (at 20 minutes) their longest selection. The story of an elderly duo, separated by a street but united by a common view, uses nearly every minute of extra time to develop their relationship. And the end, however predictable, is fitting and subtle in its triumph.

The camera work is nothing outside standard fare, but it is never sloppy. The production values suffer from obvious budget constraints, but the story muscles through this. Ultimately, you care not for the not-passable-as-real construction workers, gaggle of young girls or slowly devolving couple who's breakup can be witnessed in their short walk to a cab. What you care about is about are the two actors that play the rear-window gazing leads. And how touching is the writing that manages to find these two meeting?

Very strong piece, if not a tad to long.