a short film by Eldar Rapaport
2004 | 16 mins | US
Murray Bartlett .... Troy
Daniel Dugan .... Thomas
Francisco Valera .... Raul
Jeff Rynkiewicz .... Waiter
Postmortem
the story of ex-lovers who discover that
a spark of romance still simmers
Screened in Great Britain as part of the
19th London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
- 2005
Available on DVD as part of the
Picture This! catalogue
www.picturethishomevideo.com
- ref. Boys Briefs 3
See also www.erapfilms.com
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This highly accomplished short is in many ways unique. Unique in the sense that the story
was written specifically to accompany the music; rather than the music
to embellish the film, as is custom.
It all began when its writer and director Eldar Rapaport was invited to a concert of Middle
Eastern jazz, music that lingered with him long after the event itself, culminating
in Rapaport having decided to write a work with that music in mind.
Yet such is the professionalism of this piece, that the score blends effortlessly with the
narrative and vice versa, being the story of ex-lovers Troy and Thomas who meet up for
a coffee and chat years after a traumatic breakup, only to discover that a spark
of romance still simmers below the surface.
In short, this is a story that I dare say, many of us will be more than familiar with. Namely
how ex-boyfriends meet to discuss what went wrong with their relationship and the events
that have happened in their lives, since they chose to move on. It is, as you would
expect, a bittersweet and yet touching experience.
Laced with the captivating music of Harel Shachal and ANISTAR, together with fine performances
from Murray Bartlett and Daniel Dugan in the lead roles, this first class production somehow
failed to secure a place on the 19th London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival touring short
programme of 2005. Whatever the reason or reasons for such were, what is clear is that
decision deprived a far wider audience of this superb short, filled as it is with
the raw emotions of two men who cannot help but flirt with each other, given
their minds and bodies once knew each other only too well.
And it is that sense of intimacy that closes this telling work, given Rapaport wisely chose
to leave the ending open, allowing the viewer to decide how their relationship truly ends,
if indeed it ends at all. Suffice to say, that not all of the action takes place
in the coffee shop!
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