Directed by Ashley Eikin
Runtime: 15 minutes
Genre: Dramatic Short
This is exactly what I love about independent film.
Single, directed by Ashley Eikin, takes a simple premise and turns it into something funny, uncomfortable, emotional, and surprisingly thoughtful. The setup immediately grabs you: a girl born with one arm is set up on a date with a guy who has one hand—and she is pissed.
That premise could easily become a gimmick. Instead, Eikin uses it as the starting point for a much more interesting story about expectations, identity, attraction, and the complicated ways we react when we feel like someone else has already decided who we should be with.
The thing that really worked for me was the acting. The performances give the situation the emotional weight it needs without making the characters feel like they're simply there to deliver a message. There's frustration, awkwardness, vulnerability, and humor, and the interactions feel grounded in the personalities of the characters rather than the concept alone.
And what a concept it is.
There's something wonderfully bold about making a film where the obvious connection between two characters isn't necessarily the connection they want. It challenges the audience's assumptions right along with the protagonist. We may immediately think, Of course these two should be together. But the film asks us to consider how irritating—and even insulting—that assumption might feel to the person being set up.
That's where Single really succeeds for me.
It takes something that could have been presented as inspirational or sentimental and refuses to take the easy road. Instead, it lets its protagonist be annoyed. She gets to have an attitude. She gets to have preferences. She gets to be complicated.
And that's what makes her feel like a person rather than a plot device.
At only 15 minutes, Single also understands the value of getting in, telling its story, and getting out. There is enough here to give the characters dimension without stretching the concept beyond what it needs to be.
Most importantly, this is the kind of short that reminds me why I enjoy covering independent film. You don't need a massive budget or an elaborate premise to make something memorable. You need an interesting idea, talented people, and the willingness to take a chance on a story.
Single takes that chance.
My Take: Must Watch
If you love independent films that take a familiar situation, turn it sideways, and make you reconsider your first impression, put Single on your list.
Film Description: A girl born with one arm gets set up with a guy who has one hand - and she is pissed.
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