Blind Date

Written by and featuring Abigail Blackmore, this is an almost flawless short, avoiding romantic comedy cliché to produce something genuinely funny, genuinely touching. A writing debut for Blackmore, it's well-judged, well written, authentic in its characterisations. A sophomore effort for director Joe Rosen, it's well shot, making fantastic use of its single location, if you'll excuse the pun, to show two people who feel real meeting in a way that entertains.

Rachel (Blackmore) is meant to meet Daniel, but while waiting in the crowded bar of The Perseverance she ends up sharing a table with Steven. She's a bit clumsy, initially a little stand-offish, harassed in the way people are while waiting for plans to furl. He is Cavan Clerkin, an actor with plenty of comedy experience. This isn't out and out, it's the humour of the moment, jokes shared between strangers, then the intimacy engendered by alcohol.

With an animated opening that's either straight from the Sixties or the last wave of stylistic revivalism, it starts, stays, gentle. For all the alcohol consumed, a handful of G&Ts, a goodly number of pints, even shots that seem ill-advised, it retains its peacable tone. There's confrontation of sorts, first impressions and all that, but there are few indicators of the passage of time as effective as a few more empty glasses.

The stories shared are one thing, but it's the accidental chemistry between the characters that sells it. A chance conversation that becomes involving, one of those things - is it fate, luck, a consequence of personality? This is a picture of one of those moments, and it's a lovely one.

Soundtracked by the jukebox for all intents and purposes, with songs by Shrift, Cordisto, Avenging Force, Woman and other bands you may well have never heard of, it's indie territory, it's got the hustle and bustle of reality, a chance meeting that might, indeed we feel should, become something more.

The script and direction are solid, the performances great. While he's only in it a little Matthew Blackmore's turn as the bartender is good, and when, well, Daniel becomes involved, Zeben Jameson acquits himself well, but to say more would spoil a film that is about surprises.

Blind Date, then, is clever, funny, a good job in the city so to speak, and might well be the perfect match for you.