A chance encounter can alter the course of people’s existence, regardless of how aimless or unfortunate their outlook on it may be. In Meeting Point, an unassuming meeting just might be the signal two broken souls need to resume their lives.
Passing time in a local town bar one gloomy day, Andy Jones (John Laight) desperately tries to wash his pain away with alcohol, unable to manage the toll a recent tragedy has taken on his mind and body. His mind lingers in dark places, but a glimmer of hope emerges when he runs into struggling single mom Vicki Matthews (Julia Bentley). Vicki’s relationship with her son Jamie (Felix Winn) is at risk after a volatile situation with her partner Jack (Drew Noon) takes a turn for the worse. Their hardships draw them closer as they gradually confront the source of their inner turmoil. The question remains: can these two people shoulder each other’s burden or are they too far gone to open up?
George S. Evans’ short is a 28-minute deep dive into the human condition of self-loathing and grief, often resulting in an atmosphere that feels impossibly bleak. The prevailing theme of rediscovering oneself through meaningful connections is prominently featured, but Evans’ screenplay delivers a relentless barrage of devastation through smaller plot twists during Vicki’s and Andy’s interaction. Narratively speaking, it’s a strange turn of events to experience without any meaningful emotional counterbalance. All told, Meeting Point occasionally lacks a silver lining, and that could be where audience mileage will vary.
But even if the storytelling proves a touch inconsistent, the performances by Laight and Bentley are what make every second count. Both Laight and Bentley, despite their cold exteriors, yearn for relief, concealing as much as possible to prevent further hurt. Evans himself backs them with stellar production design, from the locations to the inspired cinematography, using educated color theory (courtesy of colorist Anthony Wood) and contrast to truly make each scene stand out.
Despite its heavy thematic material, Meeting Point maintains a solid grasp on its characters long road back from loss, conveyed beautifully by two perfectly matched actors.
