The latest film from writer/director Cody Clarke, Mute Date is set far into the future.
Okay, I'm lying. It's actually set in 2020. Mute Date tells the story of two people, Noah (Anthony Kapfer) and Erica (Nina Tandilashvili), who agree to go on a blind date while simultaneously beta testing groundbreaking technology that will allow them to communicate telepathically.
If you expect that things may go more than a little bit awry and unusual, you're absolutely correct about this 80-minute film that is often quite funny yet also thought-provoking and surprisingly dramatic at times as the two have everything from wacky to just plain bizarre experiences with this remarkable technology.
Or is it really that remarkable?
Kapfer and Tandilashvili share a relaxed, believable chemistry that makes Mute Date an enjoyable, entertaining view. Kapfer, a stand-up comic off the screen, has a low-key delivery that wrings every comic potential from the dialogue while the naturally charismatic Tandilashvili is a natural with Clarke's snappy dialogue.
Mute Date is set for a late January 2019 Amazon Prime release followed by a planned DVD/Blu-ray release later in 2019. A micro-budgeted film remarkably constructed for an estimated $500, Mute Date accomplishes pretty amazing things with its creative sound design and Clarke's always dependable lensing.
As a filmmaker, Clarke has never been hesitant to tackle challenging subject matter and his work here is impressive in the ways in which he manages to weave together both the lighter, more entertaining aspects of such a story along with the darker side of a technology that is a little more disturbing and uncomfortable the more you think about it.
I mean, seriously. Think about it.
Exploring this potential is reason enough to sit down with Mute Date once it's released, though you'll also be rewarded with two delightful leading performances and a story that will hold your attention from beginning to end. For more information on Mute Date, visit the film's website linked to in the credits.
© Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic
