‘Reminisce’ Review: Female-Led Short Film Examines Hard Questions and Honest Feelings

“Reminisce” is a thoughtful short from Leslie Morris about love and the doubts we have when we’re insecure. It’s also about more, of course, and packs a lot into its 11-minute run. At the film’s opening we meet Monica (Ashna Sharan) and Brian (Wayne Jay). Monica is preparing snacks and charcuterie for some guests coming over from Brian’s class reunion. He’s a little tipsy, but is clearly enamored with his wife. Yet Monica’s nervous. And her sister calling her to inform her their father’s ill sets the stage for a night that starts off on the wrong track. Brian’s old classmate and his partner coming over (Roger Gutierrez, Elisa Nixon) threaten the divide even more. Before the night is out, Monica will have doubts over the strength of her marriage to Brian. Mayne this night isn’t responsible. Maybe the doubts have been brewing for a while.  

“Reminisce” is filmed well, and Morris and Cinematographer Mario Mastromarino do a good job inviting us into these people’s lives. The sets are dimly-lit (as a house would be at a late hour) and the film’s wardrobe department allows the people to resemble the types of people that would be in this situation. The acting all around is good, also. My favorites here were Gutierrez and Jay, thought Nixon and Sharan are pleasing as well. Lastly, the film also has dedicated musical tracks written for it. These include the fun “Away from You” and “Paramecium,” written by Wayne Matthew Reusch, and the haunting “Sound of Your Smile” by Truman Chester, Hannah Heil, and Aidan Petersen. These augment Brian’s past. He used to play guitar to woo the ladies and still keeps up with it. This triggers some of his wife’s insecurities—he played them for her, too. 

A Capable, Empathetic Film

At less than 12 minutes in length, “Reminisce” is a capable picture in that it allows us to understand Monica’s feelings, especially since she is much younger (I’m guessing 20 years) than Brian. He was/is a professor and they met when she was a student. The film underscores its tones of jealousy when Elisa Nixon’s drunk and overly-verbose Diana starts digging into Monica and Brian’s relationship a little too deeply. This is in addition to her disparaging the the #metoo movement with rhetoric we usually see in right-leaning publications. The genesis: they’ve heard about a student who recently accused a professor of sexual misconduct while they were together, underlining the power imbalance and how she didn’t feel it was consensual. Monica—a young woman—however, understands how woman in modernity may finally feel heard enough to finally speak up. The exchange reminded me of a great film dealing with these topics, Emerald Fennel’s “Promising Young Women,” where a character dismisses female voices with the same rhetoric. 

“Reminisce” also weaves in other elements, such as Monica’s family, who we glean from a flashback may have disowned her over her relationship with Brian. I won’t say too much here, but it complicates things. I’ve personally had friends who went through this decision: whether to be with people they loved or risk traditional families ostracizing them. I can’t imagine what that unfair weight would feel like. And to then to question the relationship you’ve built for yourself and wonder if it’s real? We feel for Monica, though from what we’ve seen of Brian, he seems like a stand-up guy. It’s here that I feel a little more fleshing out from Writer Ashna Sharan may have helped, or perhaps a few more minutes tacked on to the run-time. Truthfully, “Reminisce” could have made an excellent feature film, lined with tough conversations that make us feel the characters’ weight. However, maybe that’s not what Morris and Sharan were going for. Maybe we’re meant to feel the uncertainty of the characters’ thoughts, much like in real life. 

A Thoughtful, Women-Led Film

All-in-all, “Reminisce” is a capable indie short. All the characters are well-written, and Nixon in particular plays her toxic role so well we really start to dislike her. The music is great (I wish I could download “Sound of Your Smile”—it’s that good), and we feel brought into these characters’ lives. I wish it was a little longer, as stated, and that the film’s end had less ambiguity and more hope. Yet Morris and Sharan have made an apt slice of life short that has much to offer. It will keep you thinking after the credits roll, and that’s always a good thing. 

The women-led “Reminisce” had its world premiere at the Oscar Qualifying LA Shorts in July. It is also showing on December 12th at the Anchorage International Film Festival.