Admittedly, I tend to love romantic New York City films. And black and white films. And films with transportation as their backdrop. And films that use the sounds of American musical standards to accompany tales in the modern world – most especially when one of those songs is a not-so-instantly recognizable take on Dylan.
Yet, in regard to Noisy, the sublime short film written and directed by Cedric Hill that incorporates every one of those things, no thumb on the scale is required. The movie’s pleasure is derived by Hill’s empathetic and nuanced dialogue and a pair of actors, Gabi Faye (April) and Max Lamadrid (Sam), who play it out with a seemingly effortless sensitivity and charm, while tackling their roles’ unique physical challenges.
In lesser hands, the comparatively long conversation that comprises the bulk of the film might have taken the viewer out of the experience. Instead, one is immersed in what the characters have to say to each other, and more importantly, how they are saying it.
This is attributable to Hills direction, varying the speed and length of his cuts between the characters to establish their personalities, and occasionally changing the distance of our perspective to remind us that while we are voyeurs to this new relationship, and we are not alone. Strangers get on and off the train and carry on with their lives, largely oblivious to April and Sam. This is due, in part, to the noise.
Viewers will have no such concern. For 10 wonderful minutes, this soulful portrayal of human connection cuts through all of it.
Robert Ferraro engages in conversations with pop culture figures. Recent guests include Melissa Etheridge, Paul Stanley, Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart, Belinda Carlisle, and Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC.