The Silent Treatment (2003) watch online HD

This film is one of many that are included in a collection of short films entitled "Shorts: Volume Four". This and the rest of the films in this series are interesting shorts made mostly but up and coming film makers.

This one is rather clever, as despite two people starring in the film, one does all the talking in a very long monologue while the other one just shows a bit of what she's thinking with her expression and body language.

The film begins with a man waking up the morning after a wild party. His partner says nothing--just glaring at him. He has no recollection about what had occurred the night before but instead of talking with her, he becomes a bit defensive and starts trying to make excuses or explain away what he MUST have done to make her angry. Unfortunately for him, the more he talks, the deeper a hole he digs for himself and it's all very clever. At the very end, there is a bit of a twist and by then it's too late for him to take it all back.

A witty script, excellent direction and acting make this an intriguing film. Considering how hard it is to do such a monologue AND how hard it must have been for the actress NOT to talk and just emote, I was rather impressed. Clever and interesting.

It's the morning after a party at Bill and Sara's house. Bill wakes up with a sore head, a bruised face and no real memory of what happened. Sara is no use to helping him remember, as she is not speaking to him - although Bill can't stop talking. As he talks he begins to work out that somehow she may have found out about something he did with another woman.

Essentially this film is a doubleheader, set in one flat like a stage play, although really all the speaking is pretty much done by Bill. As all of us who have been in a long-term relationship will know, sometimes it is best just to accept the silent treatment and keep your mouth shut as well. Here we see that first hand as Bill basically reacts in the same way as many men do - blowing steam, not accepting responsibility and eventually taking the high ground. This is never a smart thing to do and it isn't in this case as Bill basically just makes things worse for himself. As a complete little story it works quite well and is amusing all the way.

Much of the credit for this goes to Warren. Seeing him recently in `Hustle', it is easy to forget that he is a good actor as he just seems to be doing impressions and exaggerations in that series. Here he carries the whole film and he is very natural and good, with only the occasional bit where he exceeds his emotional range and his rants sound like, well, they sound like he is acting. Wilson-Jones does more than you think with her facial expressions and body language. It is easy to forget she had a lot to do and she did well.

The direction is good, making good use of the flat and moving well around the well-lit rooms. It would have been easy to turn this into a stage play format but the movement of the camera makes it feel more realistic. Overall this is an enjoyable short film that works as a complete little story and is amusing even if the ending is a bit too tidy and easy.

The Silent Treatment was an extremely true-to-life look at the morning after the night before. Bill (played by the fantastic Marc Warren) can't work out what he has done wrong to make his girlfriend Sara give him the silent treatment. Marc Warren gives a great performance as he tries in vain to make out what has happened but ends up getting himself into more and more trouble as she ignores him. I found it quite funny as he dug a deeper hole for himself and couldn't fathom what he had done the night before that was so terrible. Sara (played by Anna Wilson-Jones) didn't say anything but her facial expressions said it all. If you're new to watching short films this is a good place to start. But be warned it does contain strong language.

9/10