At Capacity: Short Film Review. By Joe Muldoon.

How quickly can a romance form? Within the space of a night, if you’re in a Linklater film. Or even within the space of a conversation, as is the case in Spencer Jamison’s directorial short debut At Capacity. Mia (Jamison, who works a triple shift as co-lead, writer, and director) is sent to a restaurant on the behalf of her sister Maxine (Zainab Bari) to break up with her boyfriend, Andrew. Only, the soon-to-be-single Andrew doesn’t turn up, instead sending his own cousin Ari (Jake Ryan Lozano) to attend dinner.

Quickly realising their predicament, the two hesitantly decide to stay for dinner, though guarded at first. As the two share stories, their walls come down, and they feel the magnetism there is between them. And it never feels unnatural; testament to both the writing and the performances of the co-leads, the mutually brewing fondness doesn’t feel manufactured. There’s a Linklateresque serendipity to their encounter; the two meet, recognise their circumstances, and feed on the excitement of their chance meeting.

Like the short itself, the romance presses along quickly – though there’s no dawdling, it doesn’t feel rushed, either. Their romance is such that it unfolds perfectly organically despite its rapid development. Jamison and Lozano have genuine chemistry and their playful sparring flows naturally, the vibrancy of cinematographer Kunitaro Ohi’s colour grading further elevating the warmth between them.

The short’s tagline, ‘Try a little tenderness’, beautifully encapsulates its philosophy; whilst Audre (Joy Hana Park) stays to comfort and support Maxine, Mia finds herself in a situation in which she would never have otherwise been, and as a result finds herself sharing a reciprocated tenderness with a perfect stranger. And in seeking to protect their sister, they grow closer to those present with them.

Effortlessly charming and deliciously sweet, Jamison has crafted a love story whose implied, ‘to be continued…’ leaves a hopeful taste in our mouths, achieving in 17 minutes what many fail to do in 90.

By Joe Muldoon

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