Over and Out (Melissa Perez 2011): USA

Reviewed by Jacqueline Kaden. Viewed at Santa Barbara Film Festival.

Over and Out begins startlingly and very surprisingly as the viewer sees macbooks, laptops, monitors, cell phones, and of all things a vibrator thrown off of the second story of a house. Scrambling behind each of these items is Lara (Mia Resella), who is now officially dumped by her girlfriend who yells at her, “It’s the technology or me!” Turns out it’s neither. The film shows an opposite of Lara whose name is Taylor. Taylor works for a technology recycling company in Santa Barbara. Through chance, Taylor comes to Lara’s door to pick up any old pieces of technology. This is where their romance begins.

From the moment this movie began, I knew I was going to like it. I liked this film so much that I chose to review it instead of another one that I had thought I was going to like much more. This film is very interesting in the content and gender roles portrayed. In this film’s world, it seems that the norm is lesbianism and that it is as average to see a lesbian couple as it is in our world to see a straight couple. This subtle shift in reality makes it so the viewer can unashamedly stare as lesbian romances are broken, recounted, and built. Another aspect that makes this film unique and so catching is the acting. Both the main actresses and the main supporting actor who plays Lara’s best friend (played by Jangis Marifet) did an incredible job of keeping these characters completely and 100% believable. I felt less like I was watching a film and more like I was watching a documentary of Lara’s social experiment and inner struggle to disconnect from technology. The film also covers many genre in its short span of time. Initially, it is a drama. Then it becomes a comedy, a documentary, then a dark comedy. In the end, it is finally a romance. The most incredible thing is that all of these genres do not seem to clash or crowd the film. On the contrary, the film is so interesting because all of these genres seem to seamlessly blend and become one another.

This film truly is touching and well made. There was not a pair of hands not clapping in the theater when it ended, and I’m sure that when you see it as well, you will be unable to resist clapping for such a well-done film.