Austin Film Festival Short Film Review: ‘Candice’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Short Film, ‘Candice’.
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It is definitely safe to say that we are taught some fascinating lessons about our emotions when we are growing up. In that, they should be expressed differently depending upon the gender that one identifies as. For instance, anyone who identifies as a woman is cleared to be emotional, but not too emotional, because that’s not attractive and annoying. Whereas those who identify as men… should express no emotion at all. Because they are the rocks and foundation of the world, and to do so… would show weakness and be embarrassing in nature and sadly… people abide by those lessons to a tee. Only to learn at certain points in adulthood, that such lessons are problematic. 

Because our emotions aren’t something that can be bottled up, for that is unhealthy in nature. Since it can create toxic behaviors and explosions of anger. The kind that are ugly in nature, and sometimes bring forth abuse and a strange desire to push people away. Yet, despite seeing the damage bottling up our feelings can do and learning that firsthand… we as a society continue to teach those woefully stupid and outdated lessons. As though somehow, some way, the problem will fix itself and that is simply not the case. For we must be in touch with our emotions to really enact change in our lives and change in our world and that reality/truth is top of mind today, simply because it is explored in great detail in a short film from writer/director Tyler Martin, that recently screened at the Austin Film Festival.

For Candice is a story that introduces us to a man named Danny, who seems to be dealing with something equally as important as one’s emotions, his sexuality. For he has hired Jonah, a man who specializes in physical comfort for an hour of time in his home and well… that’s where this film takes us on quite the journey. For it turns out, Danny isn’t eager to explore whether or not he’s attracted to men, he needs to feel. He needs to know what it means to cry and reconcile pain from his past, and Jonah is here to help him find those things. Simply because Danny believes there has to be more in this life than just existing and driving forward, especially when he realizes that he has pushed his beloved Candice away because of his icy nature, and knows now, he must take a different path.

Which is a plot that breaks down so many barriers. First and foremost, by outright doing something that is rarely seen on the silver or small screen, if at all. Specifically, seeing two adults who identify as males… have physical contact that is non-sexual in nature in an intimate setting. Which is an act that is genuinely taboo in this life, and in entertainment, since it is considered socially to be unfathomable that males can touch other males without any sexual desire or act being involved, if they’re lying in bed together and close to one another. But that happens here and its powerful and incredible and it goes one step further, by having Danny and Jonah talk about emotions and feelings and how the world asks males to keep them bottled up for the dumbest of reasons.

That in turn, allows for a magnificent and moving series of moments to take place, that revolve around the power of releasing our emotions, of being honest and raw about them be them good or bad. Because there’s freedom to be found in that, and freedom to be found in confronting the traumas we’ve experienced, and the pain we’ve felt and the joy we find as well. All of which makes it clear, that denying ourselves those feelings and the honesty they require, denies us life. Denies us the wonder of the human condition and the beauty and bittersweet nature of the gift of life we’ve been given. All of which brings forth, an utterly brilliant short film. One that is groundbreaking and poignant. Since there is steam gaining on such topics. 

Yet, the brilliance of this film doesn’t end with its subject matter. For the acting is simply top notch, with writer/director Tyler Martin offering up a visceral humanity to Danny that moves you and has you rooting for him to open up and heal, and David Gow is just as electric as Jonah, as this guide that opens Danny’s eyes to so much more about the world. And of course, we’d be foolish to not talk about the wonder of the setting of the film, for it is as intimate as the moments we share in, and that is undoubtedly intentional and symbolic. As though being in the confined space of an RV informs us that there is no escaping our emotions and to face them accordingly and well, in the end, this really is quite the incredible short film. One that hopefully inspires the entire market to finally lean into the truth that no one wants to hear. In that, it’s okay to feel, and we should feel, for it is the only way to be truly free in this life.

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