Screening as part of the "Made in Washington" block of shorts at this month's Seattle Shorts Film Festival, Andrew Frank's nearly 11-minute short doc Cab Elvis chronicles the infinitely interesting live of Dave Groh (don't be tempted to be an "L" on there), a Seattle-based cab driver who stumbled across Elvis's "reservoir of love" and lives out the persona of Elvis while driving his cab.

Groh has, in what eventually became a nationally recognized way, become a recognized figure in the city but eventually had to fight for the right to be Elvis when city officials found his Elvis persona to be falling short of the legislated dress code for Seattle cabbies. Between that fight and Groh's eventually tapping into Elvis's darker side, Andrew Frank's Cab Elvis is the kind of short film that you expect to see at an indie or shorts film fest and it's the kind of film that leaves you talking even after the closing credits have rolled. 

If you're like me, you'll also find yourself looking up Andrew Frank and wondering what the guy's up to in his life. Whatever it is, I'm pretty sure it's going to be interesting. 

Cab Elvis isn't quite as interesting when the camera's not on Groh, a compelling figure both for his normalcy and the feeling one gets that this seemingly simple shtick has added depth and meaning to Groh's life. 

Cab Elvis is screening as part of the "Made in Washington" Block of shorts at 4:45pm on 11/13 at SIFF Film Center. For more information, visit the Seattle Shorts Film Festival website.

© Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic