There were many films that made more of an impression me than this one, but I picked Lunch Date because I saw it last year in a short film screenwriting class. Now that I watched it again, I am ready to give some thought. (I also just learned it won the Oscar for best short subject.)
What I love about Lunch Date is its use of very little dialogue. It could easily be a silent film. In many regards it is shot like one. Black and white, old style music, an art deco train station. It was made to transcend a time period, although by no means is it a period piece.
The use of expression works perfectly. You know exactly what the woman is thinking. You discover the story with her, right up until the reveal. The wardrobe is also very important to the story. You know exactly the type of woman she is and where she comes from, and the man is obviously a bum. I especially like the tag still attached to his hat.
In so little time their relationship develops and matures with exactly no dialogue. This is executed perfectly. It's also nice to see the woman get over some of her prejudice. We know she'll have a hilarious story to tell her friends when she gets back.
Maybe what's most fascinating to me is how we watched to people eating salad and found it interesting.
You have a good point about how little dialogue there is in this film. I wonder how much of a difference it would have made if they HAD made it a silent film?
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing not a whole lot, but I think the woman's gasps/noises may have helped her character a little bit. I think this could have easily been a Chaplin film.
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