Ben Ogunbiyi | A Walk / 2022

 work first

by Douglas Messerli

 

Jacob Meadows (screenplay), Ben Ogunbiyi (director) A Walk / 2022 [4.15 minutes]

 

British director Ben Ogunbiyi along with screenwriter Jacob Meadows created this short encounter between two gay lovers, Thom (Meadows) and Seb (Vincent Rosec) apparently in a weekend.

      There is very little “story” here, but the major “event” of the film is devastating to one of the gay lovers and will probably end the relationship. Nothing is resolved and no explanations are given. We simply see the two men, Thom and Seb, beginning to enjoy their day together. Thom has evidently just bought a couple Heinekens as they take a walk. But something, Thom feels, is being held back, Seb being slow to even crack open his beer, as well as being quieter than usual. Thom stops in their tracks and holds on to tell Seb that he loves him.

      When Seb replies that there people around, Thom pulls back, realizing something is up, asking once more, “What’s going on?”

       Seb finally tells him that the promotion he has been waiting for has been offered to him.

       Thom is delighted, excited with the fact, but there are suddenly qualifications. Seb has been asked to move to Paris. Temporarily taken aback, Thom is still delighted with the news and suggests that they go out for dinner talk about it, weighing the pros and cons.

        But Seb reports that he has, in fact, already accepted the job, encouraging Thom to join him. Thom replies that his entire life is “here,” presumably London. And when he asks about the transfer date, Thom reports that it’s the very next week. Finally, as he assimilates the news, he asks Seb when he found out, Thom reporting a week ago.

         Suddenly everything strikes him, not only has his lover kept the information from him, but has planned the move without even consulting him. His suggestion that Thom join him, repeated, is simply a hollow one since everything has been decided without him being involved in any manner.

         Thom insists that he needs some space, and when Seb hovers near somewhat apologetically, he commands he leave him, that the other get away, move off.

          As I mentioned, there is no resolve. We do not see Thom thinking over the events further. Actually, what has happened has been made quite clear. And the film ends before we can observe the pain Thom surely suffers over simply being abandoned by the man he thought he loved. Seb’s immediate response of “Work first,” says it all, we perceiving just how selfish he is, forcing us to sympathize with Meadows’ character.

          Even if Thom were to suddenly find it possible to leave his work and life behind in Britain and move to France on a few days’ notice, we realize that the love between them is now over.

          That Ogunbiyi, with Meadows’ brilliant writing and acting, have conveyed all of this in something close to 4 minutes is truly amazing, and suggests the talent that might go in to making a longer short or even feature film.

 

Los Angeles, January 29, 2022

Reprinted from World Cinema Review (January 2022).