If you thought the world of short movies was full of plagiarizers (*cough* Shia LaBeouf *cough*), navel gazing students and big names slumming it for the advertising dollars, then think again. Plenty of top directors started out on the short-film scene, which allows more room for experimentation than more expensive and complicated long formats. Pardis Parker‘s “The Dance” is one such effort, and it brings with a host of good notices, festival appearances and awards including Best Comedy from the National Screen Institute of Canada.
Parker is a comedian as well as a writer-director-actor and he brings a light comedic touch to his take on the office love story. “The Dance,” continuing an ongoing revival precipitated by 2011’s “The Artist” and Disney‘s 2012 Oscar-winner (and quite exquisite) “The Paperman,” is played out in full silent movie style, exaggerated facial expressions and all. It’s sweet and nicely made and the whole thing is soundtracked beautifully by three original numbers from Asif and Shehab Illyas, the creative forces behind Canadian alt-rock band Mir. It’s only ten minutes long and well worth your time for a glimpse of this up and coming talent on the Canadian film scene.
