Two Cars, One Night

This short film features two children as the stars and very few others. Both are stuck waiting in the cars for hours with nothing to do at night. The boy (about 9) at first is a jerk and does some pretty obnoxious things to get the older girl's attention. Later, however, the wall between them falls--both figuratively and literally--as they both get one of the cars together and talk. Nothing earth-shattering, but sweet.

What I focused on, though, was not their interaction but I kept wondering about their parents. After all, these are young kids and why are the parents in a pub while the kids are stuck outside? I guess being a parent and school teacher, I notice these things more than others.

Much of the problem enjoying this film was unique to me. I am losing my hearing and struggled desperately to understand the dialog. It really could have used closed captioning and I hate when films neglect to do this when they are broadcast on TV or placed on DVDs. This problem, though, should still be a problem (though perhaps not as bad) to other Americans watching the film because it was made in New Zealand and had a lot of colloquialisms that any American would struggle with interpreting. This means that TWO CARS, ONE NIGHT would probably play better for audiences at home as opposed to abroad.

This film, while short, is nothing short of a masterpiece. It has everything covered, great acting, great camera work, great storyline and writing. The subject matter is rarely approached by filmmakers and I applaud Waititi and Co. in their artful piece.

This reminds me of the times we were left outside the pub whilst our folks were inside boozing. The time, it's nine year old Romeo (Rangi Ngamoki) and his young bookworm brother "Ed" (Te Ahiwaru Ngamoki-Richards) who are waiting when they spy "Polly" (Hutini Wakiato) in the car next to their's. A bit of teasing goes on before a chat that might just see the embryo of undying love born? How many of us had our first crush in a car park whilst bored to distraction? It's a simple story with the younger, entirely indifferent, lad stealing the show as he refuses to fib for his brother trying to impress the girl. It's an honest and amusingly light-hearted observation that does raise a smile now and again.

Inside the Te Kaha pub the night is in full flow with drinkers enjoying themselves. Outside in the car park Romeo and his little brother Ed sit in the car awaiting the return of their father. Another car pulls up alongside, with twelve year old Polly also left in the car while her father goes for a drink. Bored out of his mind, Romeo starts taunting Polly from his car but what starts out childish insults changes with even the short time they share together in the anonymous car park.

Aside from the rather grating accents (to my ear at least) and the difficulty in quickly catching onto the dialect of the characters, I must confess that I found this a surprisingly fresh and charming short film. Another reviewer has stated that writer/director Cohen was aiming for something that looks at human contact and this has indeed been achieved. Filmed in a great black and white that feels dirty and lowdown (as opposed to the crisp and sexy b/w that many modern films will use) the film starts with a simple insult and builds from there. If it sounds simple then I suppose it is because it sort of is. However it works because the two characters are well written and well delivered to pace the development of this contact without making it feel corny or rushed.

The script works well but the director does well to draw good performances from the three children. Despite initially a bit put off by their appearance and accents, I was drawn in as they were by one another and found them really natural and engaging. Ngamoki is annoying at first but comes around well, while Waikato has an easy chemistry with him that makes it convincing. Ngamoki-Richards maybe has a small character but he is funny as little brother Ed.

Overall then a charming unassuming little film. It won't blow your mind with depth or messages but it is effective in what it does and it is as convincing as it is engaging.

Although it may not seem so, this short film is set in the present day (hence the reference to Johnny Depp). Two brothers (Romeo & Ed) wait in a car outside the pub their parents are in, when another car pulls up, two people get out and enter the pub, leaving 12 year old Polly in the car. What starts out as taunting and awkward looks, turns into an unlikely friendship between Romeo and Polly (Ed is too busy reading to be interested). What makes this film all the more unique are the thick East Coast (of New Zealand) accents, which most New Zealanders can relate to and make the film extremely realistic. Human connection was the main premise in Two Cars, One Night's creation, as explained by its director Taika Waititi; "I want to show how human contact creates something special in a not so special environment." This really is a one of a kind film which shows the most simple things in life can make the biggest difference.