Card Runner 2035
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Get it? Cuz Denzel Equalizer split a guy's throat with a card like a blade? Get it?
Uh, anyway. There are two types of films about a futuristic world. You have ones like "I, Robot", where in 2035, for example, mankind has reached an arguable peak of innovation with a robot society, making the world a better place, or (short) films like "2035", where it's the same year but the world has become worse.
Now, when you have that concept in mind, there are many things you can do with it. Ask yourself, why do (certain) people struggle? What prevents them from getting needed for resources survival in this world?
Firstly, I think what this short film does quite well is place the answer onto a citizen card, something refugees or illegal immigrants don't always have. And with that an actual similarity emerges connecting the world of "2035" and the real today's world.
I am a big fan of sci-fi films, especially the ones taking place in a specific year in a future (be it in the title, opening text or unrevealed completely). But with that comes the film critic side of me. Ignoring all the low-budget setups (been there myself), I think sometimes deviating from our main character's perspective acts as a kind of a cheat for the audience. While, yes, I like the maintained tension in waiting for the consequences to happen, what I try more, while watching a film, is piecing the story bits together. This is entirely about the first half of the film.
Without spoiling anything, I do not hate the reveal before the end, only because it, in a way, develops John's character, minorly but cleverly foreshadowing what's he going to do in the finale.
While I don't think it's one the more special short films ever made, I do recommend checking out "2035" just to form your opinion about it, being it either of a bored panda, or a thinking man.
Officer: Citizen card, please. Me: Here's my card. (pulls out uno reverse) Come on man, that's to easy! ๐