This Conversation Has Been Removed

This Conversation Has Been Removed is a contemporary silent comedy centring on themes of a lack of communication in modern society. The short piece follows Jill (Stevie Martin) and Peter (Simon Ashe Browne) in a heated dispute online as they learn just how wrong “making it personal” can go. The experience entirely depends on the online conversation between the two central characters and utilises unique framing devices such as visual storytelling to convey its themes and message.

One of the most impressive aspects of the short piece is its wholly unique concept, which explores the ways we communicate daily and the ways we don't. In particular, the use of visual storytelling works well with the lack of dialogue and the need for technology that individuals frequently crave. It's an incredibly bold and riveting creative decision to have the piece entirely rest on a lack of dialogue and a singular online dispute between two individuals to anchor the narrative’s driving force. The pacing is electrifying thanks to the incredibly brisk runtime that gets straight to the central idea of the narrative, and doesn’t let up until the credits roll. While the pacing and tight runtime are commendable, they also serve as a detriment to the piece, as the themes and ideas are only explored at a surface level.

The ideas of how we communicate are incredibly apt in this modern era of technology; however, the piece isn't given enough time to explore in depth how they've impacted many individuals. This is potentially due to the filmmakers wanting to focus entirely on the heated online discussion between Jill and Peter; however, a more in-depth approach to these topics could’ve been far more memorable. That being said, the social satire aspect of the piece is incredibly well executed, and viewers may instantly connect with these elements. The comedic and dramatic elements are balanced aptly without the tonal shifts ever feeling jarring. Another apt formal decision is the complete lack of exposition, with the audience instantly thrust into the dispute between Jill and Peter with no context.

Patrick Jordan, serving as the film's cinematographer, primarily frames both central characters with close-ups of their facial expressions or phones to give the viewer a sense of the characters' dispute and online political discourse emerging around them. The plethora of composers, including David Anthony Curley, Dylan Lynch and James Tebbitt, deliver an anxiety-inducing musical score with engaging motifs that effectively build tension during moments of conflict. Each technical element soars, and it's a testament to the talent in front of and behind the camera.

Both central performances from Stevie Martin and Simon Ashe Browne, in their portrayals of Jill and Peter, respectively, are incredibly nuanced and impressive. They convey so much with their facial expressions alone, and it's undoubtedly riveting due to the lack of dialogue, as their performances entirely rest on their reactions to the text.

While the conclusion to the narrative wraps up abruptly, the execution of the ending is profoundly clever and ties in with the central themes of the piece. Despite only exploring the concept at a surface level, the piece is almost always engaging thanks to its terrific technical elements.

This Conversation Has Been Removed is an engaging attempt at a modern silent comedy that explores topical ideas in this current era of technology and online discourse. While it may suffer from not exploring its ideas in-depth, the two central performances and formal elements work profoundly in its favour.