BEDROOMS

Bedrooms
Directed by: V. Tehran, Y. Delarra, W. Renz, M.D. Olmos
Released on: LA Latino Film Festival 2010
Grade: 3 meatballs
Reviewed by: John Esther

Making its world premiere at LALIFF 2010, Bedrooms examines several different couples on the precipice of their relationship in four intermittent segments.

Written and directed by Victor Tehran, in the "Beth and Julian" segment things are a bit dry in the lovemaking department for Beth (Moon Bloodgood) and Julian (Jordan Belfi). He wants it, but she does not and she cannot, or will not, say why. This frustrates Julian because he wants their marriage to work. This only makes Beth feel more guilty for her lack of desire.

Written and directed by Youssef Delarra, in the "Anna, Sal and Harry" segment, a kept woman, Anna (Julie Benz) and the newly arrived "Pizza Man" Sal (Jesse Garcia) are trying spontaneous sex, but something is stopping her. Rather than focus on getting some action from the rich lady, Sal backs away to offer a fresh perspective to Anna about how to deal with her situation.

Directed by Delara and written by Wynne Renz, in the "Marnie, Walter and Roger" segment, an older couple, Marnie (Dee Wallace) and Roger (Barry Bostwick), are coming to the point of no return in her four-year extramarital affair. Roger wants her to leave her sick husband, Walter (Enn Reitel), since Roger loves Marnie and Walter does not love her(so they believe), but when Roger tells her a deep secret he has been carrying for years, there is only bed to lay and lie in henceforth.

Directed by Michael D. Olmos and written by Rebecca Woolf, in the "Janet, Max and Daisy" segment, two ten-old twins named Max (Dylan Sprayberry) and Daisy (Ellery Sprayberry) have to find ways to entertain themselves while mommy (Sarah Clarke) leaves long phone messages to her estranged husband, John, as she waits for her artistic powers to ignite. When the kids realize bickering will not relieve the tension, they create their own art stemming from the despair felt throughout the house.

Rather than run the four segments consecutively, Bedrooms slides between the bedrooms -- creating an intense and suspenseful result. (While these qualities make for engaging drama, I imagine the intermittent pacing could get a bit nerve wrecking for impatient or uncomfortable viewers/couples strongly identifying with one of the characters or couple's situation.)

Sure, Bedrooms can be a bit stagy at times, considering the mise-en-scène, and the "Janet, Max and Daisy" does not exactly fit with the rest of the material, but the screenwriting here is superb and most of the actors live up to the material. There are some very raw emotions and genuine dialogue here, creating an insightful look at individuals trying miserably to cope with the fact they are deeply loved.

Bedrooms Trailer from Youssef Delara on Vimeo.