The 10 minute short film below, ‘The Lunch Date‘, is one of the most profound, clever, amusing and humane films I’ve ever seen. The film, directed by Adam Davidson, went on to become a worldwide success after it was made in 1989. In 1990, it won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for best short film, and, in 1991, an Oscar for Best Short Film. The film explores prejudices and racial tension through a chance encounter between an old white woman and a black man.
This short film is an example of perfect film making. No matter how you see this film, you can still find those elements which you prefer to see in a film. To begin with, the film has a perfect narrative; well defined acts, conflict, character development, dramatic tension and resolution. The film also has symbolic artistry written all over it. Then, the story has humor and poignancy, both complementing each other. Finally, the film explores one of the most important conflicts of modern times, the racial prejudices, in the most non-judgmental & effective way possible. And, the film achieves all that in mere ten minutes!
The film was made in 1989, but the story seems to be set in an earlier period. I think the story’s setting in bit earlier times, along with the movie being shot in B&W, helped the film made it’s point better. There is a suggested sense of irony with film being shot in B&W; we learn by the end of the film that life is certainly not black and white. For me, the biggest victory of this short film is that how in mere ten minutes, and one seemingly frivolous encounter later, you sense a profound change within that prejudiced old woman. Because I personally believe that people, even in their complete life time, hardly change much in terms of their core values, prejudices and world view. So, when in films and stories I see characters having major changes in their values, attitudes and prejudices after some experience or, worse still, sermonizing, I generally don’t buy it and find such changes very unrealistic. But this film is so profound & that encounter between the old woman and black man so humane, that the change which you sense through inside this woman looks so well earned & also permanent. This gem of a film succeeds at all levels.
21 responses so far ↓
Amit // July 25, 2009 at 12:17 am |
Wow! What a movie. So simple and yet so powerful.
scriptlarva // July 25, 2009 at 10:06 am |
Hi the new look looks good.
Mahendra // July 26, 2009 at 4:53 am |
Beautiful film, made all the more enriching because of the way you’ve shared it. Thanks.
Nimmy // July 26, 2009 at 2:06 pm |
Fresh new look!!
Ruhi // July 26, 2009 at 7:47 pm |
Dev, thank you for posting this and for IM’ing me and annoying the hell out of me to watch this. Okay, just joking.
What a lovely piece of art. I took me a moment to realize what just happened! The length feels just right. I suggest this short movie to all Hindi movie directors who take pride in making movies that are at least 2.5 hours long. Brilliant brilliant movie.
Dev // July 27, 2009 at 9:04 pm |
Iam happy that you guys liked it too.
Mahendra, thanks.
Ruhi, what????????? I annoyed you??? common, I just asked you once..dont spread false info..
Scriptlarva and Nimmy, glad you guys liked the new look.
P.S. Nimmy, long time..heh?
Solilo // July 28, 2009 at 2:43 am |
WOW! thanks for sharing, Dev.
And this theme is good.
Solilo // July 28, 2009 at 2:45 am |
You know they copied this and used it as one of the stories in ‘Dus kahaniyan’. It had Shabana Azmi playing a Brahmin Tamil woman and Naseeruddin Shah as a Muslim.
Dev // July 28, 2009 at 2:32 pm |
Solilo, glad you liked the film.
Oh, I dont know that they copied the film in the movie, Dus Kahaniyan, as I havent seen that movie. I wonder if the producer of dus kahaniyan bought the rights from the lunch date producer or he shamelessly copied it without giving any credit to the original source?
Solilo // July 29, 2009 at 4:15 am
Dev, I don’t think they bought the rights. As usual they copied and passed it off as “original”.
you can watch it here.
Rice Plate
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFogAlLSFr4
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyFZ0vbXoIA&feature=related
Dev // July 29, 2009 at 9:43 pm |
Thanks for the links Solilo. I watched Rice plate from the links you gave, and I must say you are right. I mean they did change the setting and added few scenes, but conceptually it was a complete rip off. Still, I have to admit I enjoyed watching this one too.. the background song towards the end was very good.
Indyeah // August 7, 2009 at 10:06 am |
Like the new look of your blog
looks very pro
Indyeah // August 7, 2009 at 10:42 am |
Just saw the film and LOVED it
thanks for sharing
humane is the most apt word for it and one that you have shared
the way you have written about it is beautiful to read too:)
Indyeah // August 7, 2009 at 10:47 am |
But this film is so profound & that encounter between the old woman and black man so humane, that the change which you sense through inside this woman looks so well earned & also permanent. This gem of a film succeeds at all levels.
yes this movie deserves all the accolades that it has received
I love anything that affirms the common bond of humanity present inherently I think in most of us..
(okay maybe not all of us but def some of us)
saw rice plate too
yeah a rip off but liked it too
Thanks for the links Solilo:)
Indyeah // August 7, 2009 at 12:20 pm
I loved the song in rice plate too:)
Dev // August 7, 2009 at 11:20 pm |
Indy, you are back with a bang.
Iam glad that you enjoyed the film and also liked the new look of my blog.
Poonam // August 8, 2009 at 5:10 pm |
Actually, long ago I read a short story of a white woman and black guy. It was some chicken soup book, I think. So when I saw Rice Plate, I found it familiar. I enjoyed it though, how could I not since it had seasoned actors playing it in an entirely identifiable Indian setting.
It was nice watching Lunch Date, knowing where story stemmed from.
Dev // August 9, 2009 at 10:28 pm |
Poonam, good to know that you enjoyed it.
Jeremy Orr // October 23, 2009 at 4:15 pm |
I use the lunch date in my class. I have the students watch and discuss it. It can work on so many levels for so many ages. It really is great film making and an awesome learning tool.
zsemlye // November 17, 2009 at 4:19 pm |
hungarian version from 2006
http://film.indavideo.hu/video/f_szalontudo
zsemlye // November 17, 2009 at 4:23 pm |
ps to the previously sent urll
The homeless in the hungarian version is Tamás Ascher who is a very famous, one of the best theatre director in Hungary. He don’t use to take actor jobs.