ANNIE WAITS: Stuck At The Intersection Between Life & Relationships
Written by Chris Anastasi and directed by Marnie Paxton, Annie Waits is a first person narrative short film that explores one young millennial’s struggle in seeking out the ideal romantic partner.
Waiting For The One
Annie, portrayed by April Kelley, expresses existential boredom towards the traditional life of settling down with marriage and kids. She’s honest with herself and knows what she wants. She seeks something different from the boring normalcy that her friends are falling into, while still hoping to find an ideal mate to share her life’s adventures with. With a blunt opinion about them told through a narrative voice-over, several romantic relationships begin and then fizzle out once they fall into a boring routine. The relationships are short-lived and summed up in a sentence or two. Annie’s fears are explained in a rational and relatable way.
The film unfolds almost like a diary. It’s subtly detailed with the go-nowhere relationships. Annie comes off as open but reserved – waiting for exactly the right one. When she finds him she ends up becoming so smitten, she’s even willing to concede and give in to the normalcy, just a smidgen. But when she says something to Patrick (Andrew Simpson) that falls a little too into the traditional normalcy, his own voice-over narration takes over, echoing his concerns for a carefree future. It begs the question of conflict between them and how will it resolve? With an abrupt end, it leaves it up to the viewers’ imagination about what happens from there.
The entire piece came together well. A deserved nod goes to Anastasi and Paxton. Annie Waits is intelligently written and translated well on screen. For a simple film that closes in at just under nine minutes, the acting isn’t overdone, and it flows well alongside the narration. The cinematography is sharp, editing is tight, and score fits nicely.
Conclusion
Annie Waits is a short comedic film that many young millennials might find relatable. It’s about being in the space of not wanting to compromise between living your best life and searching for the perfect love.
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