An ambitious short film we produced alongside Minoan Pictures and Wolfshot Picture Company. Rom Blanco approached our in house director Dan Löwenstein with the script he first started writing 10 years before. After reading Dan fell in love the world and the rich charechters as well as the simplicity of the story. Dan really wanted to push the bounderies on this one, so he collaborated with DoP Alex Bender, who levelled e project up by upping the original 16mm idea to 35mm 2perf using his wonderful contacts at Arri Rental.  

We are proud to have been able to produce this short to the level it is at. A huge thanks to all involved!

SYNOPSIS

Conman Lee rekindles with his childhood friend Sol, a stocky firecracker who in turn introduces him to his brother in arms, Alfie, stoic and enigmatic.

At Lee’s expense and indulging in all imaginary vices, they embark upon a three-day bender that culminates in the middle of nowhere, sitting in Lee’s red 1985 Audi Quattro with a lot of cocaine. With the dazed and unbroken concentration of his now wavy comrades, Lee orchestrates the conversation around cocaine and two-bit existential exchanges, propping up the colourful tale of Tom. A merchant marine captain, who disguised as a catholic priest, has a side hustle smuggling cocaine-packed Baoding balls on his cargo ship from a favela in Brazil.

During this detailed account of Tom’s unfortunate last voyage, Lee and Sol make their way outside to relieve themselves, only for a skeptical Alfie to stay inside, snatch the keys from the ignition and join them moments later. Once Lee’s anecdote is concluded on a cleverly constructed cliff-hanger he produces to his incredulous audience a pair of the very Baoding balls that were the star of his story, in this moment turning fiction into fact.

In order to seal the bond of their new friendship he is willing to sell them 4 kg of the cocaine-packed balls for a fraction of their actual market value. That way they help him out of a pickle and make a considerable investment in the process. Sol is psyched at the proposal and wants to jump on the opportunity, only to find a reticent Alfie in his way.
Alfie, resentfully gives in. However, before any further arrangements are concluded, he asks to take a closer look at the balls. Whilst examining, he smashes them to the ground, revealing that the balls contain nothing but fictitious lies.
Lee makes a run for it, only to find that the keys are missing. Alfie enters the car and sits with him.
With words as his weapon, he reduces Lee to a shadow of his former self, leaving him scared, embarrassed and ashamed.

Sol’s deification of Lee crumbles. It was all a con, a lie. His blood boils and he turns into a raging bull. He’s got to kill him.
Alfie opens the door and gives Lee the opportunity to make a run for it, only for Sol to catch up with him.
He never stood a chance.