Big Muddy Film Festival - Depending on Traffic Screening

Yesterday I went to a screening of several travelogue films at the Big Muddy Film Festival. The film that was the most interesting to me was Depending on Traffic by Ben Cotti. The film opens on a man sitting in a nice sports car. He is stuck in traffic and talking on his cell phone. He is dictating a holiday greeting card to his secretary. The gist of the message is don't take your family for granted this holiday season. These message seems to be an underlying theme of the film as we move on to another couple who are arguing in their tiny Volkswagon. 

Everyone's tension is high as it becomes apparent that the traffic has been stalled for hours. In one scene a teenage girl gets out of a large truck and sets  up a drum set. Her dad is literally asleep at the wheel as they have been sitting idle for so long. The girl starts to frantically play in a desperate attempt to wake her father. Her playing attracts a group of people but her dad never stirs. 

After a while we cut back to the couple who has been arguing in the tiny car. It is revealed that the two are having an affair and as their other partners walk up to the vehicle we see the two lovers have resolved their fight and signal to each other that they will continue their secret. 

At times this film was hard to follow and often dragged. However, I believe this was the filmmakers intent. The extremely long takes help the viewer to be pulled into the emotion of the actors because you start to feel irritated by a plot that doesn't seem to be going anywhere fast, much like the traffic jam. 

Each conversation we witness seems to reveal a personal situation for each character that is troubled or tense. We don't always know why exactly and there is much left up to the viewer to deduce about the character's lives. But the conclusion of the work seems to say, life is messy and sometimes it seems like you are going no where but don't forget to appreciate the ones you love. 

What I appreciate the most about this film is that is wasn't afraid to leave mystery.  When it comes to a short film there is often no time spent on developing a character but it is important to not underestimate how much a viewer can follow and understand the connection even when it isn't plainly spelled out. This guessing work kept the story entertaining even though the location didn't change and the pace of the film was slow.