Direction: Robert Machoian
Country: USA
In this rustic, small-town family drama written and directed by Robert Machoian (God Bless the Child), a father of four struggles with a nebulous separation motivated by a progressively crumbling relationship. The couple still love each other but agreed on seeing other people during this trial period.
Clayne Crawford delivers a raging performance as David, an angsty but well-meaning man who, encouraged by his disconsolate teen daughter to fight for the family, is taken by surprise by a series of unexpected events. He moved into his sick father’s house but still goes on sporadic dates with his wife, Nikki (Sepideh Moafi). However, Nikki’s teasing new boyfriend, Derek (Chris Coy), is decided to claim a space for himself that David can’t concede.
Despite the compact 85 minutes, I found that some scenes with the kids could have been trimmed with no loss of clarity in the idea, while, on the other hand, some characters could have been further developed. Yet, the surprising factor does magic in The Killing of Two Lovers, an atmospheric effort forged with an intensity that oscillates between slow-burning and furious. It was magnificently shot with a square-shaped 4:3 aspect ratio, while the adroit composition of each frame was carefully planned. Another aspect that stands out is Peter Albrechtsen’s sound design.
Overall, it’s a potent snapshot of a marriage in one of its most emotionally conflicting stages.
