Only once in a while does
an independent filmmaker come along who’s as ingeniously inventive as
Gavin Heffernan. He has such a beautiful and inspiring style that his
passion is evident in every frame of his movie. He knows every emotion
that bleeds from the video in which he directed, and is honest with his
audience. He’s an expert writer/director for a newcomer. The only thing
that he needs to discover is what he wants the viewers of his film to take
with them, after they have left the screening that they’ve attended. The
characters in Expiration come in contact with profound feelings
throughout the feature, but they seem to be the only ones affected by the
plot. Nevertheless, as observers, we are fascinated by this film. In the
future, Heffernan will be willing to share much more with his following,
and hopefully, achieve something truly great. Expiration is a
worthy start.
This is clearly an amateur
project, even though certain elements express maturity in the field.
Because this is a low-budget film, one must expect some dry performances
and gritty cockiness, before viewing it. However, these features are minor
variables in Heffernan’s creative process. He is able to make
Expiration work, crafting it with an unspoken life that feels quite
enriching. The pacing and execution are crucial; these aspects are two of
the most frequently impressive. Even though it’s simplistic on the
surface, there’s a lot to be said in Expiration, and without the
brilliant flow and melody in which it is presented under, it’d be a
train-wreck. Without this, the material would seem unbalanced and lack
resonance. Thankfully, it is done masterfully.
While Heffernan certainly
deserves as much praise as possible, the work of cinematographers Ben
Dally and Sebastian Grobys is the highlight of the film. Expiration
is true visual poetry; it symbolizes the characters through its shots, by
showing us their personalities. This flick has a close relationship with
its audience, and the cinematography is the only feature that allows it to
open up. This aspect of it is unbelievably fabulous, and certainly acts as
a lovely representation of art.
Expiration is
currently playing at various film festivals, and is hoping to see release
in 2004. I’d definitely recommend seeing it, when it is available to the
public; it’s a tremendous exercise and a captivating film. What more could
one ask for?
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