Reflective Encounters

“This sweary comedy from the American comedy writer Jesse Shamata delivers a funny and wise spin on a familiar scenario. A yuppy couple - we presume, from their costume and sneers - get stuck in traffic returning from a dinner party. The man drives, the woman complains about her new boss. Does she prefer cats or dogs? How will this affect her in the workplace?

The mixed-signals of their evening turns into sheer confusion on the road, as the man lets another car in front without receiving that simple gesture: ‘Where's my wave?’ As the couple’s mutual road rage mounts, they begin to project the evils of the world onto the driver in front. He symbolises societal exploitation, the patriarchy… even Donald Trump! That this couple themselves could pass for guests at the Republican Convention goes unmentioned, showing the tail-eating tendency of modern politics. Gesture is the fuel that drives cinema. Shamata strikes gold by making us question what his character’s movements mean, especially as this infuriating couple frequently comment on those gestures. It’s when the talking stops, that his use of gesture turns from broad comedy to sharp pathos.”

— Ben Flanagan