Two People Exchanging Saliva
Rating: 5/5
By: Nathaniel Simpson
Forbidden love has been prevalent throughout the history of cinema, presenting stories that showcase why two people can't be together and the ramifications if they decide to break through the barrier dividing them. However, I don't think I have seen a story of forbidden love as unique as Natalie Musteata and Alexandre Singh's Two People Exchanging Saliva, a beautifully haunting film about just wanting to share that connection with someone. Not only is the movie shot and acted wonderfully, but the directors achieve a feat that seems impossible - making the act of kissing seem so taboo and dangerous. An aspect that we see in nearly every movie and television show seems so scary that the thought of our characters kissing brings the viewer so much anxiety.
The film revolves around these two characters, named Malaise (Luàna Bajrami) and Angine (Zar Amir Ebrahimi), who exist in this society where kissing is outlawed and punishable by death while consumers can purchase items by being slapped across the face. Both are miserable in their own lives, and it is only the chance encounter inside the high-end store that Malaise works at that brings them into this whirlwind romance, with both if them terrified to kiss or show affection to the other. However, when a jealous co-worker (Aurélie Boquien) notices this new relationship blossoming, things start to become chaotic in the store that the two women first met.
The first thing you will notice about this picture is the beautiful cinematography by Alexandra de Saint Blanquat. The filmmakers make the excellent decision to shoot the entirety of the film in black & white, which I think perfectly gives the film this sense of both wonder and terror. From the first shot where the hired killers send a screaming woman off a cliff in a box to the final shot which will break the viewer's heart, the film is able to capture this haunting landscape of this dystopian society and how it affects our characters. Then, at the same time, they are able to capture the beautiful relationship between our two main characters, with subtle shots showing this forbidden romance between the two and the tension that exists between them. The best shot that shows this is when Malaise slaps Angine multiple times over the items she wants to buy in the store, causing Angine's nose to bleed. While she looks beaten and battered, she is excited by this new feeling she received from the woman standing across from her, a sexual wakening in a way.
Even though the camera is able to capture this fantastic imagery, the movie wouldn't have worked if the two main actresses didn't succeed at bringing these two characters to life. Not only do I think both Bajrami and Ebrahimi are fantastic in their own right, but I think they have stellar chemistry with one another. It's beautiful watching Angine's tough and standoff exterior break down to show her true thoughts and feelings towards Malaise, and it is wonderfully juxtaposed by Malaise's amazing sense of wonder when exploring this new relationship that she had never had before. They are excellent in both of these roles, and really pop off the screen.
The entire plot of the film, and how they are able to craft the screenplay and bring it to life on the screen, works so well. Musteata and Singh craft this haunting story in this terrifying setting, one that simply works due to how original and bizarre it is. I would have never thought of a society where kissing is outlawed and you get slapped to pay for goods, which surprisingly works incredibly well together. Not only is it commentary on consumerism and the governments running the world in today's day and age, but it is a great backdrop to tell this love story between these two women. There is so much to unpack here in terms of the world building and what the filmmakers are trying to say, and I think it is best it is left to the viewer's interpretation.
I was first intrigued by this short film from the poster and the imagery I saw from this film, promoting an artistic black & white film that deserves to be seen by a wider audience. Not only was I delightfully surprised in how this movie played out, but the acting and the artistic vision behind the film as a whole is awe-inspiring. The filmmakers here were able to achieve something heart-wrenchingly beautiful, and my only hope is that this movie joins the long list of amazing films about forbidden love as I think it needs to be seen by everyone.
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