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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
The Bouncer is the first foreign language short film I got to see at the Tribeca Film Festival. Aleksi Salmenperä serves as the director of the Finnish project, while Jani Volanen serves as the screenwriter.
In this review, I shall discuss Salmenperä and Volanen’s comedy. There will be spoilers in this piece, as the title of the article suggests.
Plot Summary
Below is the synopsis of the short film, as per the Tribeca website.
“Big city nights need The Bouncer (Jani Volanen).”
Discussion
I don’t know if it was me, but the Finnish short film was funny, albeit in a cringey manner. It had a lot of elements that are found in a grounded superhero film. Yet, it does not go to the lengths I thought it would traverse. Volanen serves as both the writer and the protagonist of this cinematic endeavor. The project only takes place in two locations: the character’s apartment complex and what looks to be a bar of sorts.
We get to see the Bouncer — who does not go by a name — sew himself a superhero costume. It is decent, but I would not know what to say beyond that. He puts on his outfit, and people in a building across his window can see him.
Matters only get worse from here. The Bouncer has to have a cape, and if we’ve learned anything from Pixar’s The Incredibles… That is not necessary to have. The character has difficulty exiting his building in secret, his cape rips, and when he does leave the apartment, he is locked out. His boots make a pounding noise on what looks to be a tin roof, then residents of the building spot him and are about to call the police. Before you know it, the movie is over, and you are left wondering if all that happened was inside of his head. It could be, or perhaps it’s all in the past.
Final Thoughts
I suppose the film has served its purpose in making the audience laugh. The writing is good in such a way that I pity the character. He has the potential to be a hero and has a neat costume. However, for his first night out, he needs to learn to do better. The Bouncer sees crime happening in his area and has every intention to do good, but the execution could be better. Volanen writes well but seems to perform just as great, too.
I would like to commend Heikki Färm’s cinematography as well Samu Heikkilä’s editing. Together, The Bouncer makes for a visually pleasing short comedy film.
The Bouncer is available to watch at the Tribeca Film Festival!
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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.
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