Show and Tell Tango
Show and Tell Tango is a short film about a couple in an affair who differ to accept the strength of the other to comprehend the true nature of everything, the elements of which are illustrated in the form of their reflections tangoing in the blissful openness of the world. A truly remarkable exchange of succinct dialogue between the central characters Max and Alex pushes forward this short film with such vigour that it needs nothing else to underpin except the duo dancing to a beautiful music in between the scenes.
The film opens with a couple dancing with great emotion reflecting the passion between Max and Alex. When the act is done, the two characters start to guess each other’s opinions, ideas, views on the concepts that are intimate, fantastic and also sensitive. When Alex pokes Max with words that are implied to undermine his argument about the secretiveness he maintains, Max counters that it is she who expects him to be an enigma which does not appease Alex. As the couple go toe to toe in this argument to weaken the defences to make one another accept the passion that is evident between them for what it actually is, they drift apart a little guarding themselves.
Max goads Alex that she wants him to be devious and mysterious because she herself has some secrets of her own. When they go back and forth exchanging their images of each other, a story which is hard to accept comes up disappointing the fantasy which they are not yet ready to face. Max, in order to appease Alex, affirms the significance of her in his life and when this is all said, everything falls apart when he states the obvious and opens the doors to the reality. It can be comprehended from their discourse that what one may feel or believe may not be true enough to forget all about the reality and be in our own world of imagination. Alex tries to make Max forget about his past with her presence when she thinks that the story he narrates is a representation of the unattended wounds of his own. With life waiting outside and things needing his attention, Max leaves Alex saying nothing. The loneliness of Alex is delineated with the female dancer searching for her companion only to find the floral wreath which effectuated their union.
Show and Tell Tango is a beautiful film made possible with such intricate and pithy dialogues rendering the film its uniqueness. This kind of employment of dialogue is a genius and reflects the writer’s comprehension of sensitive art. The intermittent tango by the duo to the music of Andy Evan Cohen completes the ideas of Max and Alex in such effective manner that it enhances the film viewing experience. Melissa Skirboll, Natasha Straley have done a well-organised job of presenting this idea in abstraction. Jamal Solomon adds beauty to the film with an arresting cinematography. More such films to represent the profound nature of love are essential.
