In a world where proper conversation seems like a fading concept, two strangers find common ground under surprisingly bleak circumstances.
On a break from work, Dorothy (Jennifer Drummond) joins Charlie (Dhanya Lott) on a park bench for a smoke. Having never met before, they casually strike up a conversation, with the topics gradually shifting to more deep and personal territories. In time, the two women discover things about themselves that they’ve repressed for longer than they care to admit.
Ryan Nunes’ latest short finds the writer/director refining his craft. If there was one takeaway from his 2022 film After The Beep, it was that he has an undeniable knack for poignant storytelling. A Beautiful Day feels like the natural next step for the up-and-comer, an evolution of his talents. Well-directed and staged, there’s a lot to like about how Ethan de Aguiar and Dan Goldsmith frame the talents in front of the camera, especially with how authentic the colors look under the sunlight.
Despite the sometimes overt subtext in Nunes’ screenplay, the casting of Drummond and Lott ultimately elevates the film beyond its dialogue. The two actresses build a wonderful rapport with each other that’s uneasy at first, but becomes quite meaningful. Both carry grievances with respect to their families and work, but there’s something more that isn’t immediately apparent. There is more to Charlie and Dorothy than what initially appears, and if you pay attention, A Beautiful Day will reward you for it, especially as more details emerge. Rather than coast to an already emotional finish line, Nunes consolidates all the buildup in a terrifically executed final twist.
