A Dizzy Affair, written and directed by J. Antonio, is a 20-minute silent film noir built around the themes of lies, greed, and redemption that takes the incredibly old school idea of a silent film and places it squarely within the context of a contemporary story and contemporary filmmaking. Presented without, at least for the most part, utilizing the often quite broad acting so commonly found in silent films, A Dizzy Affair is a multi-layered short that comes to life in three acts that connect yet have their own individual life.

J. Antonio is a filmmaker from Jamaica, Queens who takes an interest in life's disconnections and the stories that often go unrepresented. Having felt like an outcast himself much of his young life, he's committed Sacred9Films to telling stories that connect with the disconnected and tell the untold stories.

A Dizzy Affair certainly requires your attention, after all it is a dialogue free film that relies on the physical performances of its ensemble cast and the expressive music that companions the film throughout. Fortunately, the cast is more than up to the task and the original music that plays throughout the film is vibrant and nicely reflects the story that unfolds. The lensing by Ulysses Adams is strong throughout the film, and the film's structure is such that it holds your interest throughout.

Because A Dizzy Affair is a silent film, there are certainly times when you are left to construct the dialogue within your own mind even as you watch the actors mouthing words. It's a unique yet effective approach that makes this film one of those rare experimental shorts that actually works.

For more information on A Dizzy Affair, visit the Sacred9Films website linked to in the credits to the left of this review.

© Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic