Shorts : Approaching a Breakthrough (2017)
Digging through Amazon Prime for short films is more often than not a rewarding experience. Not only do you get what can be the equivalent of a hearty snack in terms of film consumption, but sometimes you get to see a familiar face or two. When Kieran Culkin popped up on the list, I knew that I had to give Approaching a Breakthrough a quick spin.
Norman (Kieran Culkin) and Claire (Mae Whitman), while in the midst of a stroll through Central Park, find themselves engaged in an argument that teeters on the verge of spilling into breakup territory. While Claire tears into Norman, Norman finds himself occupied with not only defending himself, but avoiding a random assortment of people from his past : Dr. Zeitland (Chip Zien) and Dr. Jacobson (Jeanine Serralles), two former therapists he skipped out on (both the sessions and the bills); Alan (Mason Walker), a parking attendant whom Norman owes money to as well; Professor Spiegel (Sharon Washington), a former professor with whom Norman unloaded an unfinished project on; and even his ex-girlfriend Genevieve (Justine Lupe). With so many opinions coming at him in regards to his past and present, Norman is forced to face his future with new perspective.
Writer/director Noah Pritzker wisely uses the group of individuals from Norman’s pass to add a personification of his issues, which not only drive home the points of his current and former girlfriends, but provide viewers with a bit of a shorthand in terms of understanding and acceptance of Norman’s issues. To have Claire (and even Genevieve) run a laundry list of their gripes with Norman is only so effective, but to show concentrated and repeat efforts on Norman’s part to escape societal, financial and personal responsibilities that come back to haunt him in the form of literal people from his past bears much more weight narratively.
Tonally, the film is extremely balanced as well. While it’s hard not to take sides in the lover’s quarrel, Norman and Claire are played as equals more so than as the ‘right’ and ‘wronged’. True, Norman’s literal baggage via the people from his past does put him at a disadvantage, but wisely, he deals with his past on his own, rather than force Claire into a situation of making judgement for a time that she did not know Norman. In a way, this choice mirrors what can usually be considered the healthy option in terms of real relationships : if you must quarrel, it is generally better to do so in regards to grounds that affect both of you, rather than aspects of a person’s life you’ve not been invited into or taken part in.
Kieran Culkin is brilliant as always, managing to play as both put off by the whole experience and willing to at least consider the mass amount of information unloaded onto him by his past. Mae Whitman is all business, representing the literal driving force that attempts to keep Culkin’s Norman moving forward, rather than allowing him to wallow in his past. Chip Zien brings a bit of humor into the mix with his quiet observations, while Jeanine Serralles takes a more direct and tactical approach in her deductions. Mason Walker brings that impatient New York energy needed for any film based in the city. Sharon Washington plays one of the more sympathetic roles, being the one person that truly seems to care about Norman, maybe even more so than he does about himself in certain aspects. The cherry on top that Justine Lupe provides in terms of tying things together is the perfect button for the proceedings.
If you don’t have Amazon Prime, you can find Approaching a Breakthrough on YouTube as well, along with many other intriguing and entertaining short films. For those interested in eventually making films, examining these pieces is a good way to learn a thing or two about the craft.