May 27, 20202 min read

Bright Future My Love short film review

★★★★★

Starring: #AndrijaKispatic, #SuncicaZivkovic

I was about one minute into this film when I thought to myself, “I’m seeing a lot of David Lynch here”. Of course, the resemblance is clear – Serbian director and writer Marko Zunic seems to be channelling his inner ‘Lynch’ style with his own unique style on top. He even shows Henry Spencer, the protagonist from Eraserhead, on the newspaper in his film. I am also a fan of Lynch, and so I thoroughly appreciated the appearance of Bright Future My Love, and Zunic’s personal style really compliments his inspiration for the film.

Zunic shows us a terrifying world. Almost everything is dirty, isolated and destroyed. It appears post-apocalyptic and brutal in many ways – but appearance is not the problem in this world. Zunic’s world masterfully encapsulates us; our day to day struggle. We see this through the eyes of a nameless protagonist (Andrija Kispatic) who works for an anonymous boss on a screen. Kispatic goes through the motions of a job, he gets up and goes to work and comes home, day in and day out. However, if you look closely, you see that Kispatic is not working, he is simply typing nonsense on a keyboard. Kispatic’s days are meaningless, and he works only for the mushy food that is given to him out of a strange hose. Of course, this all changes when he meets a nameless girl (Suncica Zivkovic) who is in the same dead-end life, and the two go off track (quite literally) to live a little. Problems arise when they try to be intimate, as the anonymous boss who controls Zunic’s world seeks to bring any joy or distraction from work to a standstill.

Zunic has written the film wonderfully with patient care, allowing the story to be universal with its lack of speech. Nothing needs to be said, so nothing is said – romance between the two protagonists is achieved through looks and quiet physical intimacy. The struggle and desperation suffered by Kispatic’s character is well defined and understandable, and even almost relatable, which is strange given the nature of his predicament. This is all backed up by the brilliant acting of Kispatic and Zivkovic, who present the emotions of this surreal world without overdoing it. Their forbidden relationship is presented in a familiar fashion, while clearly not being a typical romance.

The costume design is simple, yet effective; suits are worn by the characters as a symbol of the lack of freedom and expression in this world, and this was clear and successful. The primary score reflects the day-to-day back and forth of the characters’ life really well, and the new, softer piano score introduced when the romance begins between the protagonists is a wonderful touch and added an enjoyable change to the atmosphere.

Bright Future My Love is shot strikingly, with not a single frame wasted. The film is in black and white for a reason, and the bleak, lifeless world is reflected through this decision. Marko Zunic has planned this film carefully, and it shows. It is a haunting creation and ominous in its tone, but its unique beauty is wonderful to watch.

#ChristopherHart