No. 11 (2023) 7 DAYS 15th Feb.

 

Film No. 11  (2023)  February 15th.  8:00 PM  SOMERVILLE Outdoor, UWA  Nedlands.

"I was a little bit worried that you were catching feelings" (Ravi finds Rita with a chicken drumstick and beer in hand.) There is a sense of relief in his voice.

WINNER : JURY AWARD Best Narrative Feature (Rothan Sethi) Coronado Island Film Festival.

Hard on the heels of WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? comes 7 DAYS. Romcoms of a very different pedigree. Both with an arranged marriage theme. One made (Working Title) for the masses, the other from The Duplass Brothers; say no more. It was also shot during the COVID crisis and puts the pandemic to good use in the story. 

So, we meet Ravi and Rita, picnicking, both trying to please, in the bizarre confines of a dry weir bed. It's a cute scene where we might be led to believe they are a nice couple who may just have  some chemistry. The prologue to all of this comes in the form of a series of inter-cuts of real couples, later in life, talking to camera about how their arranged marriage has been a godsend. Each couple talking to camera about how hard they have worked together to make life work. We know Ravi and Rita are going to fall in love, but remember this is a Duplass Brothers production, made in COVID times.

Rita soon becomes her slob-like self as they come to terms with their incompatibility. She is in her own abode, so it's a case of Ravi leaving on day two. Job done. Family will need to be told another of their arranged setups fell flat. Ravi can't get away when he'd hoped. Two days becomes three and then there is the virus which takes on a starring role.          

Director Rothan Sethi plays the COVID card reasonably effectively, but I hadn't really been convinced the two had created a  legitimate chemistry. The film's final 30 minutes need us to believe they really had found  common ground before the physical disconnection took place. Don't get me wrong, they both revealed their true, eccentric selves enough. It's the highlight of the film. I just wasn't sure there was enough there for true love to blossom. 

Anyway, plenty of "punters" have enjoyed the irreverence of 7 Days. I look forward to the next Duplass' experience. I'll never grow tired of the new ideas these guys conjure.    9GUMS.