ShortFilmsMatter.com

Cardigan

2/5
A tale of bisexuality, identity and monogamy.

Synopsis

A handsome Latino immigrant living in Vancouver, Canada must choose between keeping his engagement with his fiancee or start a new relationship with his one-night stand.

Review

Written and directed by Doug Vale Gonzalez, ‘Cardigan’ is a short LGBT-themed romance film that explores a young man’s bisexuality. Luis Garcia Fit leads the cast as Seb, who is forced to confront his sexual orientation after a homosexual rendezvous with Kelley (Etienne Cote). Sena Yurika Cagla co-stars as Seb’s long-term fiancée, Leyla. Despite the narrative being billed as a romance, the film falls-short of charming – with low-budget production quality throughout.

The 20-minute film, which could have favorably been severed in half, opens with Seb waking up in the Vancouver apartment of his homosexual affair. Unbeknownst to Seb, his fiancée and his male lover are already acquainted through yoga – which leads to an awkward encounter thereafter.

In spite of the film’s promising log-line, the reality is far from satisfying. Notwithstanding the dire technicality with sound, editing and cinematography – the acting delivery is clumsy, inauthentic and uninspiring. The major flaw of ‘Cardigan’ is within the core-narrative. After Leyla (Seb’s fiancée) discovers his homosexual affair, her response is vastly unrealistic – enough to infuriate the audience.

Gonzalez’s whole-hearted creative intentions are genuinely admirable, but the result is spoilt by drawn-out segments, tasteless music, incompetent theatricals, low-grade editing and unfeasible characterization. Further exploration of the protagonist’s immigrant backstory, his heterosexual relationship and his dabbling of homosexuality would call for more credit. A disheartening watch.

Cast/Crew

Director(s): Doug Vale Gonzalez
Writer(s): Doug Vale Gonzalez
Cast: Etienne Cote, Luis Garcia Fitz, Sena Yurika Cagla
Producer(s): Doug Vale Gonzalez
Director of Photography:
Animation (if applicable):

Specifications

Genre: ,
Collections:
Country:
Language: English, Spanish
Year: 2021
Runtime: 20 min

Recommended

Synopsis

A handsome Latino immigrant living in Vancouver, Canada must choose between keeping his engagement with his fiancee or start a new relationship with his one-night stand.

Cast/Crew

Director(s): Doug Vale Gonzalez
Writer(s): Doug Vale Gonzalez
Cast: Etienne Cote, Luis Garcia Fitz, Sena Yurika Cagla
Producer(s): Doug Vale Gonzalez
Director of Photography:
Animation:

Specifcations

Genre: ,
Collections:
Country:
Language: English, Spanish
Year: 2021
Runtime: 20 min

Recommended

Cardigan

2/5

A tale of bisexuality, identity and monogamy.

Cardigan
Written and directed by Doug Vale Gonzalez, ‘Cardigan’ is a short LGBT-themed romance film that explores a young man’s bisexuality. Luis Garcia Fit leads the cast as Seb, who is forced to confront his sexual orientation after a homosexual rendezvous with Kelley (Etienne Cote). Sena Yurika Cagla co-stars as Seb’s long-term fiancée, Leyla. Despite the narrative being billed as a romance, the film falls-short of charming – with low-budget production quality throughout.

The 20-minute film, which could have favorably been severed in half, opens with Seb waking up in the Vancouver apartment of his homosexual affair. Unbeknownst to Seb, his fiancée and his male lover are already acquainted through yoga – which leads to an awkward encounter thereafter.

In spite of the film’s promising log-line, the reality is far from satisfying. Notwithstanding the dire technicality with sound, editing and cinematography – the acting delivery is clumsy, inauthentic and uninspiring. The major flaw of ‘Cardigan’ is within the core-narrative. After Leyla (Seb’s fiancée) discovers his homosexual affair, her response is vastly unrealistic – enough to infuriate the audience.

Gonzalez’s whole-hearted creative intentions are genuinely admirable, but the result is spoilt by drawn-out segments, tasteless music, incompetent theatricals, low-grade editing and unfeasible characterization. Further exploration of the protagonist’s immigrant backstory, his heterosexual relationship and his dabbling of homosexuality would call for more credit. A disheartening watch.

Recommended