By GILLIAN TAM
At 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29, the Beloit Art Center hosted a Meet the Filmmaker event by the Beloit International Film Festival (B.I.F.F.). It features two films, “A Cloudy Moon” and “Erased,” and displays the talents of Director TJ Hills, Cinematographer Nathan Talan, and Actor, Writer & Sound Editor Aaron Hill. Both films focus on a romantic relationship but in vastly different stages, with one couple in the throes of the bitter end of a breakup and one couple in the stomach-twirling giddy transition from friends to lovers.
The evening started with “A Cloudy Moon,” and I was in for a treat! Here’s the spoiler-free rundown for those who haven’t seen it: Nick, played by Aaron Hill, is reuniting with his High School best friend Alexis, played by Ellie Lish, but what was intended to be a casual meet-up turns out to be an awkwardly ambiguous first date. Nick’s quirky, slip-of-the-tounge nature is endearing and adds this balance of reality and romanticism. Perfectly corny and cute, this film will surely tickle you with joy and laughter all the way through.
When asked about the intention behind “A Cloudy Moon,” Hills said, “I wanted to make something that might’ve been a little bit more accessible and had more of a sweeter side, something that could give people tears in a way that’s maybe a happy tear along the way.” With its nostalgic Hallmark movie feel, this sense of familiarity comes through. It brings audiences to simpler (and also chaotic, anxiety-inducing) times of newborn love.
Throughout the film, a burning question kept occupying my mind: why the name A Cloudy Moon? It’s so unique and special, but what does it mean? During my interview with Hills, he filled me in: the film’s name showcases the ambiguity of the relationship between the two lead characters (where they’re on a date, not a date). Hills stated, “The intentions may be a little bit clouded in that way. And the beauty that can come once the clouds kind of parse through.”
“Erased” immediately followed “A Cloudy Moon,” a much darker and richer examination of romantic relationships. The film is almost entirely silent, with the only sound being this static-y, off-putting music. It follows a couple that slowly breaks apart, communicating either through shrieking screams or silent scribbles on a whiteboard.
The silent nature of the film intrigued me and added to the emptiness one feels when their relationship is gradually being erased. When asked what this element adds to the film’s overall feeling, Hills said, “I think one of the moments I react to the most is seeing Brain’s [the actor who plays one of the leads] character mouth the words, get out of my life. And it’s almost stronger; you can hear it even though he’s not speaking the words.”
The main form of communication in this film is writing on a whiteboard. When asked about the significance of this action, Hills responded that the characters erase the words to get them out of the way. This action leads to the permanence that comes with erasing somebody from your life. Both characters won’t be able to move on without scratching off all these tasks. In this way, it acts as a countdown to the inevitable doom and gloom of the end of a relationship.
The most poignant moment is when one of the characters draws on the other’s face using a black Sharpie with markings resembling tears. Hills said his intention behind such a visually intriguing moment was to present the inverse of erasing someone else. It adds this idea of how words can impact someone else. “Even though we’re not saying the text or drawing text on [their] face, it’s almost like the marker is slicing into [their] tear ducts at that moment after hearing the words that essentially are the big domino for the movie,” Hills states. The markings from the sharpie cut into the character’s body, leaving traces of the words behind.
There is a silver lining to all the somber, heart-wrenching events in the film. Erasing a romantic partner out of your life and ending the relationship can be good. Sometimes, there’s no other way for a relationship to be salvaged. Parts of your life end, but as a result, there’s room for better things to come.
Featured Image: BIFF Meet the Filmmaker Night; Gillian Tam’27
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