Last Days of the Lab, a short film directed by María Alvarez, tells the story of a family closing their beloved camera business, Hugo’s Cameras. Mother and daughter Lucia (Arianna Ortiz) and Isabel (Alex Felix) are still mourning the loss of Hugo (Juan Francisco Villa), Lucia’s husband and Isabel’s father. The camera business was always his dream, and when he passed, Lucia and Isabel take over to keep part of him alive, but are forced to close when they can’t continue to run it. Last Days of the Lab takes place in these last few days of closing, and emotions rise as Isabel discovers an old video camera of Hugo’s, with footage of the family left on it.
As they work their last shifts, tensions rise as Isabel’s focus drifts to the camcorder, leaving Lucia to deal with customers. When Lucia breaks something in the backroom, tension peaks, until the camcorder starts playing on the small television, bringing emotions to the surface as Hugo is brought back to life via video.
The set (Eve Axness) is beautifully done, taking place in a small shop in what looks like the downtown of a small town. It is reminiscent of shopping centers driven through on road trips, forgettable but meaningful to the town itself. The inside of the shop looks just like an older camera shop, complete with a dark room, and a messy back area that Lucia keeps asking Isabel to help clean. Axness did a great job creating a three dimensional set, even adding personal touches we can imagine Hugo had placed long ago, such as family photos or stickers on the camera equipment. The little details like that truly make the place feel like a real, small town, family business.
With cinematography by Veronica Bouza, we truly feel as if we are flies on the wall of Hugo’s Cameras. Bouza gives us the perfect mix of close ups and wide shots to bring us closer to the characters and fall in love with the setting. Along with the present shots, the camcorder video is filmed exactly like you would expect an old family camera to be used – slightly shaky, focusing on the family. Bouza’s camerawork is impressive, creating a feel for this world.
Ortiz and Felix give an applause worthy performance as mother and daughter duo. They may not get along perfectly, but they bond over their shared feelings surrounding Hugo. We can tell there is real love there, but it’s hard for Lucia to open up to her daughter, and throughout the film, their chemistry is evident as actors. Isabel’s love for the business is shown through her trying to get the old camcorder to work, while Lucia seemingly wants to be done with the place, but then breaks down as they’re loading their car. There are a few powerful moments between the two where you can feel the love and heartbreak in this family. Overall, Last Days of the Lab is a meaningful short film, drawing on family connection. . . to pull at your heartstrings.
