Cashback

Posted by Loukas Tsouknidas (loukas@filmschoolrejects.com) on May 30, 2007

A few years ago, a Brit photographer by the name of Sean Ellis decided to become a film director. His short, called “Cashback” didn’t exactly bring back cash, but an Oscar nomination isn’t bad either. People liked his main character and his ideas, so they bugged him to turn it into a long feature. He did, by giving his star a past, a future and a good romance and the result may not be apocalyptic but it’s funny and engaging, a rom-com strictly for the guys.

It’s the story of Ben Willis, a young art student, whose recent break-up shock gave him insomnia. Now that he can’t sleep he has lots of spare time to trade for money. So he gets the night shift at a super-market. It’s a place where everyone, even the beautiful Sharon, always find new ways to spend their labour time. Ben does it a little differently, by stopping it. There, in-between seconds, he ponders about life and the mysteries of the opposite sex,as an artist of course- while everybody remains frozen. Unfortunately, time cannot be stopped forever…

It’s not an easy task to take an already complete short narrative and stretch it to full length without risking a flop. Sean Ellis does a very good work and convinces you to overlook the length of those periods where time stands still and Ben just talks to himself.

The newborn director does miracles with his images and colors,probably an easy task for an experienced photographer- blending the present with the past through some masterfully seamless transitions. His own script is full of humor, sometimes crude and others very subtle, mixing those two with a nice balance. He shows no respect for the conventions of a cliched rom-com and his characters are likable even at their worst moments. They sure are exaggerated but never feel fake. Music and editing are combined beautifully and Ben’s voice over never becomes dictating which usually turns to irritating.

Sean Biggerstuff is a great Ben Willis, distant and observing, ready to fall in the same trap over and over again. Emilia Fox is equally vivid but more lovable and the rest of the cast provides the comic environment for those two to distinguish.

It’s a beautiful movie that reveals a lot of promising British talent.

Read more articles by Loukas Tsouknidas