Souvenirs
From the Archives
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Drama, Short Films, 24-Jun-2022
A friend-for-hire balances his time with an eclectic clientele as he prepares for his most involved assignment to date: becoming a father. Andrew Theodore Balasia directs “Souvenirs,” a film that builds on a foundation of loneliness and disconnection to explore the realities (and unrealities) of a peculiar occupation. In a series of vignettes, a man hired to fulfill the basic needs of others spends time in artificial relationships, living out fantasies, giving words of encouragement, learning how to be a fake dad. (One client builds Illusions in virtual spaces, another does drugs to reach angels). Balasia, who we’ve featured twice before — with “Holy Cannoli!” In 2020 and “In That Other Fantasy (Where We Lived Forever)” in 2018 — finds a delicate tone teetering between emptiness and tenderness. A darkly comedic view of a discombobulated society, in which an odd job aims to restore balance through performance. On either side, it’s a trip. -KA. Director: Andrew Theodore Balasia. Cast: Alex Zhang Hungtai, Sandy Honig, Jordan Raf, Samantha Carroll, Daniil Khorunzhiy, Tef Baker. Director of Photography: Ben Mullen. Producer: Dylan Redord. Writer: Andrew Theodore Balasia, Dave McGrory.
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