Why Watch? Smoke swirling in the air after exhalation. An ankle turning violently against a high heeled shoe. An umbrella obscuring the view.
With a slow motion series of images – all delicately orchestrated – Alban Delachenal has crafted a seductively somber dance where a beautiful young woman ends up with strong hands against her throat while the world outside moves on without caring. A small child is the only witness, and her screams seem to go unnoticed.
The triumph here is in exquisitely crafting moments that look stunning but also push the story along. Yes, it’s a simple story, but it’s a deadly one, and that comes with its own impact no matter how blithely the nameless characters treat it. Delachenal calls this a tribute to Hitchcock, and that seems clear only from a few camera set ups – most notably an overhead shot moving through an ornate art deco lobby. It’s got style and substance, but it also seems more like Hitchcock injected with a large dose of the New Wave.
What will it cost? Around 3 minutes.