Amanda
Documentary
•
Documentary, Short Films, 13-Oct-2022
On a never-ending channel surf through streaming platforms, TV shows, movies, and commercials, two friends talk on the phone about bad relationships and good storytelling. Jack Dunphy directs “Amanda,” an examination of media overconsumption alongside a provocative portrait of a messy friendship toggling between casual conversation and dirty talk. A medley of Tide commercials, Netflix scrolls, clips from “Casablanca,” “Amélie,” or “Cheers” is the visual palette as we hear the voice of a man and woman conversing, sometimes touching on the images, sometimes veering from them. The woman on the phone asserts the reality TV show, “1000 Lb Sisters,” is actually better than most films in its editing style and evocative image making. Later, she freaks out about her malfunctioning Roku remote. Watching TV is all she does, she’s admitted as much, and so when the remote goes, it’s reason for panic. Dunphy’s voice is the other end of the line, and he mostly just goads the woman to get her takes on things, until they slip into a session of phone sex. As with Dunphy’s previous work - we’ve recently featured “Revelations” and “Brontosaurus” - the film is refreshingly uninhibited, maneuvering in touchy territory with audacious broadstrokes. -KA. Writer, director, editor: Jack Dunphy. Starring: Jessie Pinnick, Jack Dunphy, Eliza Karaza. Cinematography: Jack Dunphy, Alexander Girav. Music by: Evarardo Sanchez Ruby Dunphy, Seth Kaplan.
Up Next in Documentary
-
I Wish There Was a Guy Term for I Lov...
In this collection of anonymous stories shared by queer men, a connection is drawn between queer life and nature. “I Wish There Was a Guy Term for I Love You,” directed by Andy Motz, is an experimental documentary narrated with tales of first time flings and intimate meet-ups framed as a series o...
-
Father, Can't You See I'm Burning?
In this unsparing portrait of a contentious relationship between father and child, a young filmmaker explores family history through impromptu interviews and old photographs. A reflexive essay documentary, “Father, Can’t You See I’m Burning?”, directed by Grant Conversano, offers a penetrating st...
-
Small Hours
Inspired by the photo book format, this short documentary focuses on the seasonal workers of a small island. Charlie Weber directs “Small Hours,” a collection of summer snippets captured with evocative visuals and an ambling spirit. Kids do backflips off a pier, walk along the beach, work jobs at...