Boys Like You

A middle-aged woman tracks down a young man, leading to dramatic consequences.

June (Bennett-Thompson) is a married woman with children and she seems to be unhappy with her life. She has been observing a youth named Chris (Collins), who is a drug dealer. One day, she goes to the pub where he hangs out, with the supposed intention of meeting him. He notices her and sits with her and the two of them talk. The events that follow are rather astonishing.

This short drama revolves around a woman's decision to change her life, perhaps in order to get some answers. Approximately the first half of the screenplay is about the conversation between June and Chris. Their awkward interaction involves topics that include why she is at the pub, purchase of drugs, social class differences, their views on certain types of people, their family and whether they are happy. While this is taking place, it is not clear why June is interested in Chris and he is unaware that she has been watching him. The other half is the aftermath of their encounter. June left the pub, leaving behind a written message for Chris. The contents of that message have left him gobsmacked and she does not know how to proceed. In comparison to the first half, this part has limited dialogue and alternates between Chris being affected by June's revelation and her struggling to decide what she will do next.

The two leads are quite different individuals. June is a person who appears to have it all: a family, a house, a comfortable life, yet she seems to be feeling unfulfilled and has probably decided to meet Chris in order to fill in gaps in her life. Clearly, talking to him has a profound effect on her as she is constantly uneasy and hesitant during their conversation. Unaware of June's knowledge, Chris is confident and cheerful, yet he partially reveals his aggressive side.

The filmmakers utilise interesesting techniques during the sequences where diegetic sounds disappear and an ominous music takes place. These dramatic moments reveal June's anxious state of mind, along with close-ups.

The beautiful cinematography by James Oldham is one of the strongest aspects of the film, its quality creating a dark and moody atmosphere and the slow motion sequences effectively make drama.

The contribution by composers Jim Cornick and Matthew Loveridge deserves recognition as they develop a sinister and dynamic score that adds significant tension. The decision to add the song The Great Pretender by the American vocal group The Platters during the closing credits was definetely a good one.

This short is about a life-changing encounter. It is supported by outstanding performances from Bennett-Thompson and Collins, portraying characters that are explored by a well-written script that contains quite a plot twist. The film's message appears to be that sometimes things should be left as they are and the final shot is mind-bending.