The Connoisseurs

Frank and Roni are heading over to dinner at Roni's friend's Letty and her partner Dieter. Frank is driving so staying sober and is made all the more sober by the warning that Letty is a bit wild and the couple are into swinging. Frank is awkward through the evening although Letty, Roni and Dieter seem a lot more relaxed and having fun.

When I started this film the very first thing I spotted in the description was that it was part of the Sins of London films which include Man in the Road and Infidel, both of which were made by George Milton and neither of which I felt really worked for me. So I came into this film ready to leave it feeling unsatisfied but actually it worked pretty well by virtue of having a simple point. The film focus on a very middle class situation and pulls a lot of things together into one nice package. The dinner party situation is recognizable while the free- spirited but very financially comfortable couple are also very familiar with their good home, wines and general good life. The free approach to sex and drugs is also put on the table and, pleasingly, property prices are put into the mix as well, which brings Frank's awkward experience to a rather pleasing change of heart which, given the theme of the film, works pretty well.

It is a nice presentation of these central ideas and the conclusion does draw them together in an amusing little joke which rings true and makes for an engaging short film.