The Republic of Two

A simple story of two people - one male the other female - meet, date, fall for each other, then one moves in with the other and the conflicts start.

Tim is studying to be a doctor. Caroline works at a movie post production business. Tim and Caroline decide to live together. Tim's schedule is very demanding but this is fine with Caroline in the beginning. Tim still likes to hang out with his single friends. Caroline gets an opportunity to take a major step up in the company she works for and she expects Tim to pick up the domestic obligations she no longer has time to do with the duties of her new position. Tim neither has the time nor the will to do this.

This story has been told in many ways and writer/director Shaun Kosta brings us a newer modern twist on this male/female story. Brent Baily and Janet Montgomery give fine performances as Tim and Caroline. Unfortunately the story is very easy to forget because I watched this movie about two weeks before writing this review and I had to read about the plot first to refresh my memory. It's entertaining while you watch but you just might forget what it was all about 10 minutes later.

All I wanted to do was call this thing a "Cinematic Rorschach Test" and be done with my review, mostly because I completely agree with @cahiersducinema44. But apparently this site makes you write 10 lines or more, so I'll tell you about the Q&A I attended after a screening at New Orleans Film Festival. Literally every.single.person stayed in their seat, young and old, male and female to discuss this movie. What was surprising (and kind of uncomfortable for me) though, was that one woman even asked the filmmaker if he still believes in love! I actually felt like it made me believe more in love in some small way, but interesting she felt compelled to ask such a personal question. Maybe it says more about her than the filmmaker? Alas my title: Cinematic Rorschach Test. Take it.

It's no surprise this film has been called a conversation starter – in fact, I doubt I'll ever have another "relationship conversation" without thinking I'm being a bit of a Caroline or he's being a total Tim.

They say the more personal, the more universal. This work is proof of that for I felt as if the filmmaker had spied on my personal life - no wonder he won Best New Director. It's an insanely honest and beautiful film.

Have fun carrying these two characters with you as you figure out what you believe about love - for they are mirrors, and this little film is art.

I can't wait to see what all of these talented people do next - Janet Montgomery's & Brent Bailey''s performances made me forget I was watching a movie. I almost felt guilty, as if I were living next-door to them and constantly eavesdropped on their relationship. I wonder if there was a lot of improv or if this was true acting?? I think it may be the latter... in which case I can't wait to see what the writer/director does next too! It's too bad I can't find any theatrical releases for this film because I want to tell all my friends to go see it - I know they will relate on a very deep level. Hopefully it will be widely available online.

We have all had a relationship like the one depicted in the Republic of Two. I watched this film with a girlfriend of mine and we spent hours afterward discussing all the ways that we were able to relate to the couple in the film. We are now both happily in normal, functional relationships, and watching this movie made us realize how much we've matured and grown!

This is a good movie to watch with your (sane) significant other or friends.

It's not a traditional rom-com; it's funny but depressing; light-hearted but dark; hopeful then not.