Fantastic Fest 2023
Greetings again from the darkness. A smarmy furniture salesman goes overboard convincing Jesus that a particularly hideous coffee table "will change your life" and guarantees it will "bring you happiness. He also claims multiple times that the glass top is "unbreakable". Jesus and his wife, Maria, argue over the piece. She scoffs at him for believing the outlandish promises. What we soon learn is that Maria 'rules the roost' in this marriage and is accustomed to her word being the final word. She planned the wedding, named their newborn baby, selected the color and décor for the nursery, and has been decorating their new apartment with no input from hubby.
The purchase of the coffee table is merely Jesus standing up for himself and making a decision for their family. This couple argues over trivial matters, and they've yet to address the absurd accusations and demands being made by the 13-year-old neighbor girl who fantasizes about Jesus. Maria heads to the market to prepare for dinner with Jesus' brother and his barely legal girlfriend, leaving Jesus in charge of the baby.
By the film's end, one of the furniture salesman's promises has come true while the other two have proven absolutely not true. We watch in amazement as Jesus desperately tries to find a way out of the worst imaginable situation ... one made even worse by the extended discussions on the joys of parenting. The tension here is palpable and the subject matter is about as dark as any movie I've watched ... it's not for those who enjoy lighthearted flicks, but the film is about as well-made and well-acted as you'll ever find at an indie film festival. The awards ceremony rarely matters much to me at festivals, but I was disappointed this one didn't gain some recognition.