In Search of a Midnight Kiss

Rating:

* * * *

Verdict:

A simple, charming and occasionally bitingly funny modern day romance.

In Search of a Midnight Kiss

has played pretty much every film festival from Auckland to Krakow, and it's no surprise. Touching, amusing and brutally honest, a film doesn't get any more "indie" than this.

The antithesis of a predictable and formulaic Hollywood romantic comedy, it is shot in black and white on a tiny budget over a short space of time, features a cast of unknown up-and-coming actors, is dialogue driven, and, yes, the words quirky or offbeat can also be thrown at it.

Film writer/director Alex Holdridge's story is filled with fast-paced dialogue, neurotic and self-obsessed characters, and is beautifully shot on the streets of downtown L.A, an area famous for its derelict old theatres and art deco buildings.

Depressed at the prospect of spending New Year's Eve without a date, 29-year-old wannabe screenwriter Wilson (Scoot McNairy) has just had the worst year of his life, and is convinced by his annoying flatmate Jacob (Brian McGuire) to post a personals ad which he titles "Misanthrope seeks Misanthrope" on a dating website.

In return he receives a phone call from forthright Vivian (Sara Simmonds).

These two strangers meet and the film trails the two, "cinema verite" style, as they stroll the streets of LA, getting to know one another.

At first Wilson is almost pathologically filled with self pity, and Vivian comes across quite simply as a stroppy man-hating bitch, but once they drop their guard,

they're rather endearing, and this little gem of a film filled with frank reflections on life, love and loneliness, is quite charming for it.

Francesca Rudkin

Cast:

Scoot McNairy, Sara Simmonds

Director:

Alex Holdridge

Running time:

90 mins

Rating:

R16 (contains offensive language, drug use, sexual content that may offend)