Written, produced, and directed by Lena Báez, The Café is a short film focused on the reencounter between two lovers who were once to get married but fall apart and now get to deal with the consequences of their actions.
There is a lot to say about this film! But perhaps the main thing to highlight here is the committed craft of its entire cast and crew. Filmmaker Lena Báez has created a beautiful and poignant portrait of love that feels both heartfelt and heartbreaking as her script comes to explore what it means to love someone but not being ready to commit. Right from the opening scene we rightfully get the impression that these two characters, Eli and Daniel (played superbly by Katie Bell and Andrew Ferguson, respectively), care for one another. Sure, as the film develops, we get glimpses and, eventually, a solid explanation of why things fell apart. But it’s in those first seconds of the film that we can tell that these two have a past, and that it’s a rather bittersweet one. Anyone who has rencounter with an old lover knows how this is. The friendly attitude but the distant feeling, that unspoken desire to go back to the best times and the fear and pain of doing so. It’s uncomfortable and familiar at the same time, and because of it, we are invested in these characters in less than a minute – which is something difficult to achieve. One of the main problems with many rom-coms or romantic dramas is how often they exaggerate their emotions. Whether it be that someone is doing amazingly great or terribly bad, it can come as something annoying for the audience as we start appealing to logic. But here the emotions are real. We are really able to connect with these characters, and that only becomes stronger as the story develops because their arguments, the problems they have gone through are absolutely grounded and relatable. Who among us hasn’t had doubts about the person we thought was perfect or hasn’t met the right person at the wrong time. And who among us hasn’t been wounded by the person they trusted the most? Who hasn’t lingered to a love that is both beautiful and painful at the same time?
In just 10 minutes, Báez manages to tell the story of two lovers that feels like an entire life, and that, much like in the real world, doesn’t end on a happy note, but that still, makes us feel joy and pain, and leaves us feeling both understood and supported. In a world that can be overly cynical or too delusional on its notions of love, it’s great to have an actual representation of the falling in love and losing someone experience.
Naturally, a lot of the film’s success comes from its cast. Both Katie Bell and Andrew Ferguson bring believable performances, embody their emotions perfectly, and convince us of their love story. The editing, cinematography, and music also go a long way when it comes to creating the charming atmosphere and a solid pace. Most of the film is shot in a single location and while in some cases that might cause the final product to feel slow, even among short films, here it went by as nothing.
So, again, this is quite a remarkable short film. We can’t recommend it enough, nor we can’t wait to watch Báez’s next project.
Director’s Biography:
Lena Báez is an award-winning filmmaker from Ecuador, celebrated for her powerful dramas that explore the intricacies of human behavior and emotion. Drawing on her background in psychology, Lena crafts stories that are both genuine and insightful. Her notable works include the thought-provoking dramas “Zen Garden” and “The Family Album,” as well as the acclaimed project “Distorted Mirrors,” which received recognition and nominations at various festivals, including a showcase at the TCL Chinese Theater with the Golden State Film Festival. Lena is dedicated to creating impactful stories that delve deeply into human emotions and offer a profound exploration of human relationships.
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