If you're like me, you can't help but occasionally find yourself scrolling through social media videos watching soundbyte clips of purportedly happy couples in a variety of scenarios ranging from weird gags to see how the spouse responds to baby clips to simple, humorous gags based on everyday life experiences obviously manipulated for the sake of a few hits.
We know it ain't real, but we still can't help but watch. I think Shelby and Dylan, popular on Facebook Reels, are a favorite. There's Shelby - the former cheerleader who's now a second grade teacher with an adorable twang and a willingness to poke innocent fun at her hubby Dyl. Dyl, or Dylan, is a mustard-obsessed guy who has seemingly avoided every life experience up to now and whose big eyes and hilarious southern drawl can't help but make you laugh.
Together, they're adorable. Now that they're parents? Even more adorable.
But, are they real?
Writer/director Valentina El Harizi was 16-years-old when she directed the 20-minute short film Behind the Scenes, a pointed and precise critique of the digital world and its glossy facade that often seduces us into entering its fantasy world rather than existing attentively in our real world. Fresh off its world premiere at Dallas's DIFF Shorts, Behind the Scenes shines the light on a couple we never really get to know - Her (El Harizi) and Him (Max Johnson) - two young loves seemingly enamored with one another before we begin to realize that there's much more going on behind the scenes.
El Harizi creatively brings this world to life by creating a full-on sensory experience from utilizing by French and English dialogue to stylish, reflective imagery that feels as if it keeps us at a distance just as, one could say, living one's life in the digital world may very well keep us at a distance from one another. El Harizi's character is seemingly more comfortable crafting a carefully maintained personal, curated to the point that the line between real-life and digital life becomes blurred.
Behind the Scenes clearly takes sides in this discussion, not so much condemning the digital world as encouraging real-life, authentic relationships and life outside hits, likes, loves, and clicks. Both El Harizi and Johnson are engaging here, never quite convincing as a real-life couple, as it should be, because seemingly their every interaction has an agenda behind it. We get glimpses of something else, of course, and we become increasingly frustrated as this couple seems unable to escape their fantasy and face reality. Behind the Scenes is no doubt a rally cry against screen addiction - a refreshing message coming from a younger filmmaker with an abundance of insight.
Destined to be a popular entry on the indie film festival circuitt, Behind the Scenes is an engaging, meaningful short film and certainly a timely one given the powerful influence social media has on everything from relationships to the world political scene.
The now 17-year-old El Harizi is clearly a gifted and talented filmmaker with strong vision and the ability to bring that vision to life. It'll be a blast to watch her grow as a filmmaker and one can only hope she continues to use her creative voice to make the world a better and more authentic place.
Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic
