Watch The Lunch Date
- 1990
- 12 min
-
7.5 (1,738)
The Lunch Date is a short film directed by Adam Davidson and written by Seth Greenland. The film was released in 1989 and stars Scotty Bloch as the lead character. The Lunch Date is a unique piece of art with a simple yet engaging story that captures the attention of viewers from the beginning to the end. The movie begins with a middle-aged woman (Scotty Bloch) in a panic, trying to catch a train to visit her mother. Her anxiety is clear as she frantically searches for her train ticket. She finally makes it to the station just in time to catch the train. As she boards the train, she appears relieved and ready for a relaxing meal before reaching her destination.
The next scene shows the woman sitting in a bustling train station restaurant. She orders her food and waits, hardly noticing the people around her. After a while, an African-American man (Clebert Ford) approaches her and asks if he can share her table. She reluctantly agrees, clearly uncomfortable with his presence.
The man starts a conversation with the woman, and she tries to keep it short and formal. But as they talk, they find out that they have things in common. He talks about how he loves music, and she reveals that she used to sing when she was younger. They even share a laugh over a misunderstanding when she thought he was asking her for her food.
But as they talk more, the woman becomes increasingly agitated. She starts to panic, realizing that she has left her purse on the train. She makes excuses to leave, trying to get away from the man, but he doesn't give up. He follows her to the platform and tries to convince her to stay and enjoy her lunch.
As the woman starts to panic, the man tries to reassure her. He shares a story about how he once stole a bag of oranges from a store, but when he realized he couldn't eat them all, he gave them away to people in the street. The story seems to calm the woman down, and she agrees to stay and finish her lunch.
But as she eats, the woman becomes increasingly anxious. She starts to imagine that the man is stealing from her, and she even accuses him of taking her wallet. The man becomes frustrated and angry, and accuses the woman of being prejudiced.
The tension between them builds, and it becomes clear that the woman's fears are unfounded. In the end, she realizes that her prejudices were keeping her from enjoying the possibility of a pleasant experience with another human being. The man leaves, and she is left alone to face her demons.
Overall, The Lunch Date is a brilliant piece of art that examines themes of human connection, prejudice, and anxiety. The film's tonal shift from light-hearted humor to darkness is well-executed and adds a layer of depth to the film. The performances by Scotty Bloch, Clebert Ford, and Bernard Johnson are stellar, immersing the audience in the characters' journeys. The Lunch Date is a must-see for anyone interested in short films or exploring complex human emotions.