If our peculiar world has demonstrated anything, it’s that the most unlikely alliances form in the most unexpected locations. Making its world premiere at SXSW and its New York debut at the Tribeca Film Festival, director Sam Davis’ The Singers is a rousing retelling of Ivan Turgenev’s 19th-century short story.
A train rushes past an old, barely lit pub in the middle of nowhere. Glasses clink, and cigarette smoke envelops the countertop as quiet small talk fills the air. A quaint evening by any measure, with the establishment packed with gruff-looking customers from all over the country, passing time the old-fashioned way.
It’s a decidedly mellow opening, one that certainly rewards your attention as the film darts around the environment, briefly establishing every patron. The short immediately pulls you in with its beautifully stripped-back approach—with its traditional 4:3 aspect ratio, moody atmosphere, and beautifully crisp film grain, it feels cozy and familiar, homey even. Like an old friend saying hello, ready to crack open a cold one late at night. The film creates an environment that feels inherently its own, where you, the viewer, don’t mind kicking back and letting time pass by.
The production design (Michelle Patterson) is where it all comes together on the technical scale. Less is often more, and a healthy sprinkling of fireplace backdrops, warm bulbs, and haze really helps bring the old pub to life. The cinematography (Davis) is all about the close-ups and the intimacy of the moment, and his editing skillfully harmonizes with this approach. Aside from the stunning opening shot of the pub and its frozen countryside backdrop, the director forgoes the use of extensive wide shots in favor of something more personal.
Something really interesting to note is that the cast is comprised of all first-timers, gathered via social media—artists of different persuasions, similar to the ensemble present in the story. This is a heavily experimental approach on the filmmaker’s behalf – one that yields sublime returns. Everyone has a distinct look and their own unique voice to go along with it. The concept of The Singers is simple: a cool beer and one hundred dollars are up for grabs for the best voice in the building. The impromptu contest takes some momentum to get off the ground, but the night quickly gets tuned up for the better. The bartender (played by a commanding Mike Young) helps conduct the proceedings, chief among them a haunting version of “The House of the Rising Sun” by Chris Smither. And while the more subtle acoustics of Judah Kelly are certainly fantastic in their own way, it’s Will Harrington’s big and bold rendition of Tampa Red’s “It Hurts Me Too” that really resonates with the soul. Numerous artists have put their twists on the 1928 blues song, and Harrington makes it his own.
“Slice of Life” filmmaking gets a bad reputation, but when done so honestly and invitingly, as in The Singers, it has real staying power. It’s a one-of-a-kind short film, clearly made with the utmost attention to detail and the human connection. Seek it out wherever and whenever possible!
