Or Something is screening at the Bushwick Film Festival this Friday, October 18.
By Elazar Abrahams
Many indie films line our inbox at TV and City, but there is simply not enough time to watch and cover them all. Yet every so often, one of the links catches a critic’s eye and merits a mention on the site. Or Something, which is playing at Williamsburg Cinemas as part of the Bushwick Film Festival this month, is one of those movies. It’s a breezy drama that’s remarkably well-crafted and a very enjoyable watch that’s worth the trip on the L train.
Or Something is written by Kareem Rahma and Mary Neely, who also star in the feature as Amira and Olivia. The strangers show up separately one afternoon to the same Brooklyn apartment, looking to collect cash they are both owed. What ensues is an anti-romcom of sorts, as the duo are forced to spend the day together in a journey through NYC. Directed by Jeffrey Scotti Schroeder, the movie feels like a true slice of life. The characters talk like real people, they move like real people, and they open up conversations that real people have. The 81-minutes are dialogue heavy; fans of independent film will know the vibe. The affair feels a bit like an East Coast version of a Duplass Brothers joint.
The chemistry between Rahma and Neely is a big factor in Or Something’s success. Both leads are excellent, and Kareem especially shines as he gets to flex some dramatic chops to those who might recognize him from his comedic persona on social media.
As is appropriate for a project that premiered at the Downtown Festival earlier this month and now screens in Brooklyn, the movie is quintessentially New York. The backdrops of the parks, the subway ride banter, the ability to shuffle through neighborhoods on the hunt for a lost friend – it’s all depicted rather beautifully here. A tribute to the city, corny, but true.
Brisk and easy to watch, light enough to smile but with enough weight right under the surface, Or Something is a hidden gem that will hopefully be available to a wider audience soon. If this sounds like something you might enjoy, you will.
Grab tickets HERE.
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