Watch The Arbalest

The Arbalest is a 2016 independent film directed by Adam Pinney. Set in the 1960s, the movie is a character study of an obscure inventor named Foster Kalt (Mike Brune), who is known for his invention of a popular toy, the Kalt Cube. The movie is a mix of drama, comedy, and romance that explores themes of love, ambition, betrayal, and regret.

The story of Foster Kalt is told through an extended interview with an aspiring filmmaker, Ana (Tallie Medel), who is seeking to make a documentary about him. Ana is fascinated by Kalt's story and decides to track him down and get his story on camera. The two of them hit it off immediately, and Kalt begins to tell his story in great detail.

Foster Kalt is not the kind of person you'd expect to be a successful toy inventor. He is socially awkward, obsessed with details, and emotionally cold. As we learn more about him, we discover that he is also bitter, resentful, and lonely. He was once in love with a woman named Ginnie (also played by Medel), but she left him for his best friend and business partner, Bob (Matthew Stanton). This betrayal changed Kalt forever, and he has never been able to move on from it.

Despite his personal struggles, Kalt managed to create the Kalt Cube, a hugely successful toy that made him famous and rich. However, he never really enjoyed his success and felt that he was constantly being taken advantage of by others. When a young woman named Luci (also played by Medel) enters his life, he sees her as a kindred spirit and they become romantically involved. However, their relationship is complicated by Kalt's emotional baggage and by the fact that Luci seems to be more interested in his money than in him.

The Arbalest is a slow burn of a movie that takes its time to explore the nuances of its characters. Mike Brune's performance as Foster Kalt is outstanding, and he manages to convey a lot of emotion and complexity without ever losing the character's essential awkwardness. Tallie Medel also shines in her various roles, playing three different characters that are all distinct and nuanced.

The movie is beautifully shot, with a vintage look that evokes the time period it is set in. The production design is also impressive, with a lot of attention paid to the little details that help flesh out the world of the movie.

Overall, The Arbalest is a unique and engaging movie that explores its themes in a subtle and nuanced way. It's a character study that is both funny and poignant, and it features great performances from its cast. If you're looking for a movie that is a little off the beaten path, this one is definitely worth checking out.

The Arbalest is a 2016 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 17 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.7.