CHEAP HUGS | Omeleto
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 มี.ค. 2024
- Two strangers who grieve the same friend meet in a chance encounter.
CHEAP HUGS is used with permission from Sarah Baskin. Learn more at sarahbaskin.com.
Two women living in Montreal are going through a difficult period in life. Jordan, who lives and works in the Anglophone part of the city, quits her job in a fit of anger one day, due to the stress and insensitivity of her work environment. Chloe, who is part of the French-speaking part of Montreal, is sleepwalking through life, often there but not there in her daily interactions.
Both of these women don't know one another. But, as it turns out, both are grieving the tragic and shocking loss of their dear friend Mathilde. Both Jordan and Chloe are isolated in their grief and sadness. But that will change when a chance encounter in the street finally brings Chloe and Jordan together.
Co-written by co-lead actor Valery Lessard, Bryan Fitzgerald and director-actor Sarah Baskin, who plays Jordan, this affecting short drama is both emotionally intimate and narratively ambitious, balancing the story of two protagonists on separate paths before bringing them together in an affecting convergence. Adapted from a play of the same name by Annick Lefebvre, the strong and elegant writing toggles between Jordan's and Chloe's separate worlds and experiences. Though each character is different in temperament -- Jordan is more volatile, Chloe withdrawn -- brief flashes of the past help viewers understand that both women are having different reactions to the same loss: their friend Mathilde, who struggled with her mental health and eventually succumbed to her inner demons.
Captured in muted yet luminous naturalistic visuals, the setting of Montreal exerts a fascinating influence on the story. Montreal is a French-speaking city and a Francophone culture, and those who speak primarily English are often outsiders. This is partly why Jordan and Chloe have never met, though their mutual friend Mathilde could exist in Montreal's two worlds. But now that Mathilde is gone, these two women might never meet. Both are stranded and isolated in their grief for their friend, a sadness that transfigures their ordinary lives into something empty and lonely.
The storytelling's considerable alchemy of images, sound and editing rhythms evokes this atmosphere of being isolated in a crowded city, as do the performances of Baskin as Jordan and Lessard as Chloe. Both are very specifically drawn women who express their grief in different ways. Chloe withdraws, but Jordan acts out and flails, seeking out any kind of relief or understanding. She may appear "crazy" to the outside world, but when Chloe finally meets Jordan on the street, both women meet the one person who understands exactly what the other is going through -- and can comfort one another in the loss.
Lyrical and unafraid of sincerity, the ending of CHEAP HUGS is deeply affecting, but it earns that emotion because of the sensitive way it portrays the sadness and despair of those left behind after a loved one takes their own life. Jordan and Chloe are left adrift in the senselessness of Mathilde's act, each grappling with the sudden void in their lives. But their coming together also portrays the importance of reaching out during difficult times, as well as the healing that happens when someone recognizes our pain and suffering and offers a space for comfort. Jordan's final act, and the film's title, is a bold statement about the importance of such compassion, and how it should be offered freely for anyone who struggles. - ภาพยนตร์และแอนิเมชัน
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When my son was in college, he struggle with severe depression. I regularly had to drive 12 hours to take him to therapy or make sure he went to class. On one of those trips, there was a student in the courtyard by a fountain with a sign reading free hugs. I suspect it was intended for fellow students not a middle aged mom, but he embraced me nonetheless. He’ll never now how much that hug meant to me in that moment. When I hugged my son, he was limp and vacant. I offered to let him withdraw from classes, but he said he’d “be dead within three months” if he dropped out, so he persisted. Six years after graduation, he is doing well, has a job he loves, and is generally happy. We both still struggle, but the good outweighs the bad. Hang in there, friends! 💕
I think that should be a film❤️ that’s tough.
Anyone who has lost someone to suicide understands how deep this film is. Beautiful portrayal of the aftermath and I hope anyone suffering in the darkness of depression will know they're loved
They really needed that hug. It was like she was leading them to each other.
How strange so they both knew the same friend but didn't know eachother.
@@gemstar7286 One looked like a very close and personal friendship; the other looked like a close work mate, so they will not necessarily know one another. My friends don't know one another. I met them in different places as we each run in different circles. It's not uncommon at all.
That being said; I feel that there's only a few degrees of separation between us in this huge world we live in.
@@MadeInSeventyFour Yeah that makes sense 👍.
Producing this film was years in the making, and to see all these touching comments is so so special.❤🤗
Grief takes you to places you've never been before. I love this, thank you!
Very correct!
As a grieving person, all I can say is Wow. You nailed it. Great film.
I think any one of us could be any of those three people at some point in our lives.
Profound observation, I find it comforting and scary at the same time.
That's right.
Everybody, I encourage you all to be proactive and offer free hugs to strangers. You don't need to be a victim and you don't need an elaborate setup. Just go and stand there and approach people, offering free hugs. Having a sign is the normal method.
Do a web search for the Free Hugs campaign.
My heart feels broken after watching this. Thank you for making this film.
Hi everyone, Sarah Baskin here, director of CHEAP HUGS. Feel free to ask me any questions about the film. And if it spoke to you, please share it with friends, or anyone struggling with grief. Thanks so much for watching!
Bravo 👏
@@sowtheseedsproductions9801 Thank you, and bravo to you too!
it is a masterpiece, congrats!!
@@j0KZZ Thank you so much, and thank you for watching!
That was fantastic and so cool to incorporate Montreal’s bilingualism into the film.
Reminds me of Sick Puppies irl "Free Hugs" video and true story from 2006. This is a beautiful story, and everyone needs a hug from time to time. ❤
A lovely film - not surprising considering the talented filmmakers!
A sweet, sad, subtle film with great acting. Thank you for sharing it with us. ❤
Some times me too I need a hug , 🤗
Good metaphor, those women are the different longingness of this world. And the hug represents connection and presence of peace to one another. 👏🏼
I think that could be said for the leaf too.
I didn't really get the full story here, and yet it still, made me ... TEAR UP. Thank You to ALL who contributed to bringing this film into this world.
A powerful story and one told in such a compelling manner. Bravo!
Congrats to Sarah and Bryan! Ya did it again with another great film. Best one so far, Can't wait to see what ya do next.
Thank you, Khalid! 💛
Thanks Khalid!! ❤
Such a beautiful film. 💓
Thank you so much 💛
This was beautiful.
Such a special film. An honor to have worked with this team.
Nice work, congrats. This is real art unlike the cesspool from Hollywood...
Thank you Malee for your beautiful work!
Beautiful work Malee, in the moment they hugged it released something in me. I couldn't hold back the tears. How special, to evoke those feelings in people! Superb job!
Amazing short! Such a fan of this team.
Thank you so much! Appreciate it :)
Awesome acting performances and writing 😎. Valery Lessard, Bryan Fitzgerald and Sarah Baskin KILLING IT 🔥👊❤️.
What a gem of a short film - we were touched by it deep beauty and sensibilities on such a difficult subject matter. Thank you for such a touching and humane story. (LCA) 💜🧡🖤
Such a humanly and humane demonstration of both loss and connectivity.
we can all use more hugs.
Such a sweet short...Bravo to choosing love❤️
what a good film
So we’ll acted: I felt the pain and anguish .
Love this ❤
Made me sob! Amazing film :')
Thank you, Willow!
@@sabaskinable This was incredibly beautiful; thank you so much. I was young and overseas when my mum wandered off. I sat down in the middle of a city and cried. I could really have done with a hug that day! I am searching everywhere for MIMO's song, and it is not publicly available... will it be?
Is the woman in the beginning (singing) related with the other two ?
She is their mutual friend, though they do not know one another. You see her in a photo on the dark-haired woman's desk (the small office shrine) and in flashbacks of the red-haired woman (in the cafe and at the subway).
Beautiful. Really beautiful))
Beautiful
Hi, Lesley! It's always nice to see a familiar face or familiar hair do!
❤
Truly beautiful....
I missed the "free hugs" movement. Covid killed that. Maybe it'll come back.
Me, too!
Don't wait. Just go and approach people at a busy place. People need more love than they need from protection against Covid.
Do you mean the Free Hugs that started in 2006 that has a video by Sick Puppies under the song "All the Same?" Excellent story of irl man and great video.
My hometown.
Montréal ❤
Can someone please explain?
Click on the more it gives a summary of this story. Breaking it down & I hope this helps. ♡
@@firefury6053 thank you, I was lost. I don't think this film made that intention very clear.
The free hugs business is weird. I absolutely do NOT want strangers hugging me.
Well, that's the beauty of it. You can choose to accept the hug or not to.
What's the name of the song that the girls sang in the subway? Please 🙏
The actress who plays the singer
@@Yoss2204 That's right! Thanks for watching :)
It’s called Don’t Wake Me Up! It’s an original song from @astro_mimo
This hit me right in the feels. We have lost too much of sisterhood in the wake of feminism.
Such a contradiction; if women r so easily comforted// then why the anxiety ( learn to harness anxiety make it your goal
This is about dealing with grief. Grief is a journey, not one hug.
@@therealJamieJoy
U just agreed with me
this one hug is not the end of the journey, though. @@mlbonfox8199
@@mlbonfox8199 the hug is part of the grief journey, not the entire journey. look deeper.
@@user-ze1fs4ir8k
Don’t give women a cope….
Were the women gay? Are women just friends like that?
The interpretation is fluid
My interpretation is that they both knew the woman, who basically walked away from life. They happened to find each other when they both needed connection the most. They didn't necessarily know each other.
No, and yes!
My interpretation is that the current culture promotes competitiveness and jealousy among women. However we long for support and friendship of other women. Once the women unite the world will be a better place and we will be able to address the current divisions and conflicts. Beautiful film.
Surprisingly, I don’t think they were just good friends, which is refreshing that it wasn’t another one of those type videos😌
Bad direction.
This was insulting