Walter (John Reoli) and Joey (Cash Tilton) have a rather unusual evening routine as they sit beneath the faint glow of a street light. This evening in particular seems to carry more weight than any other, as the two reflect on years gone by. Love and understanding thrive in Save Time Tomorrow, writer/director John Reoli’s fresh take on an elderly couple’s battle with Alzheimer’s.
Over the past few decades, films dealing with such devastating disorders have gained traction, and the LGBTQ+ community has also gotten its due, most recently in Harry Macqueen’s Supernova. That story follows Sam (Colin Firth) and Tusker (Stanley Tucci) as they tour the countryside, all while dealing with Tusker’s worsening dementia. The silver lining in Macqueen’s drama is how the pair recognizes how valuable their time is together, both past and present. In many ways, Same Time Tomorrow operates on similar principles, but there are aspects that hold it back from landing effectively. As sweet and sincere as Reoli and Tilton can be, it takes them a little while to fully slip into their respective roles. Poor sound design further hinders the dialogue, making it feel unnatural. Hearing Walter and Joey’s words can be quite challenging, particularly when background noise overwhelms them. Likewise, the camerawork leaves much to be desired, with faces going out of focus and exposure seemingly changing every shot.
Despite numerous technical errors, the film evokes empathy for both Walter and Joey as they grapple with the latter’s condition. Instead of rejecting it, they embrace it in their own engaging way, controlling what they can and adapting to what they cannot. There’s a great deal of power in that decision, and Reoli’s direction captures that very well. Most importantly, the two actors make you believe their characters’ storied relationship and convey it tenderly. One small, fleeting moment when Walter places his hand upon Joey’s as both their wedding rings come into full view is perhaps the short’s most powerful moment, and it’s as subtle as can be.
Same Time Tomorrow is an imperfect yet moving vignette of romance in the face of Alzheimer’s disease. It hits the right emotional notes and challenges conventions with solid performances from John Reoli and Cash Tilton.
