Seven Gates

I watched this movie as part of a four short-film DVD called "Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life and Other Strange Tales". I would definitely recommend checking it out if you can find it. All of the short films are very good. Since each is only about 20 minutes in length, there isn't a whole lot to say about Seven Gates. It is pretty much just two guys riding in a car together having a conversation. It takes a little bit to figure out the context of what they're talking about, but it has good acting, an interesting concept, and a couple of great songs by an odd country band called Lonesome Dave and the Soundmen.

Two men share a car ride, where they discuss coffee, physical communication and turkey farming. The nature of their relationship becomes more clear as the film progresses.

There is not much to this one, being about twenty minutes in length. But the people who made this show they are good at writing and directing, that's for sure. Dialogue for many writers is the hardest thing to write, and they nail it here. Nothing seemed forced or unnatural, and I was sucked in immediately. And the way the reveal slowly came out (you do not fully understand what is going on till the end, despite this being a very simple plot).

The directing was nice, with some good wide angles on the gates. But the best shots came from a diner scene, which could have been from any Tarantino or Scorcese picture. Great way to show two characters in conflict. My favorite shots were in the opening. The explanation of coffee with the technical way of showing coffee being made was the best. It was beauty and made me want to drink coffee. (I'm also tempted to get the transcript because the speech is awesome.) The Pengion Classic was a nice touch to contrast from the gas-guzzling car. And the inclusion of the Lonesome Dave and the Soundmen song "Shut Up Bitch" for the credits was something else. All in all, a well-rounded package and something I'd gladly see again.