TIFF 2024: The Yellow (With trailer)
TIFF 2024: The Yellow – A Suburban Thriller with a Twist of Absurdity
If you’re into films that make you laugh, think, and leave you just a little unsettled, The Yellow should be on your radar at TIFF 2024. This 14-minute short, directed by Maika Monroe and Simone Faoro, takes a darkly comedic look at suburban life, complete with stellar performances from Haley Joel Osment and Marin Hinkle. Here’s why this short film is creating a buzz in the Short Cuts programme.
The Story: Dread Meets Absurdity
The Yellow is a masterful adaptation of a story by Samantha Hunt, blending suburban dread with existential absurdity in ways you won’t see coming. The film plunges into the lives of seemingly ordinary people living in a quiet, leafy neighborhood. But behind the mundane surface lies a strange, growing tension that gradually reveals the cracks in their outwardly perfect lives.
While the plot details are kept under wraps, expect plenty of twists, sharp dialogue, and a tone that swings from unsettling to hilariously bizarre. It’s a short but intense ride that will leave you questioning the very nature of suburban life and the little absurdities we often overlook.
Stellar Performances
The Yellow boasts an impressive cast, with Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense) and Marin Hinkle (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) bringing their A-game. Osment’s performance, in particular, has been described as both darkly humorous and deeply unnerving, making him the perfect fit for the film’s strange, tension-filled atmosphere. Hinkle adds an emotional weight to the narrative, grounding the absurdity in something more human and relatable.
Why You Should Watch It
What sets The Yellow apart is its unique ability to blend genres. It’s part thriller, part comedy, and part existential drama. This mix of tones keeps you on your toes throughout the 14-minute runtime, and the film’s absurd moments are balanced with real emotional depth. The suburban setting, which often symbolizes safety and normalcy, is turned on its head, revealing the unease lurking just beneath the surface.
If you enjoy films that challenge the status quo and leave you with more questions than answers, The Yellow is a perfect pick. It’s a short film that packs a punch, offering a fresh and creative take on themes of modern life, identity, and the absurdity of it all.
Part of Short Cuts Programme 02
The Yellow is just one of several exciting shorts featured in TIFF’s Short Cuts 2024 Programme 02. Here are a few other highlights from this selection:
- Percebes – A beautifully animated reflection on a community’s relationship with the sea.
- Fuck Me – A sharp look at gender norms and modern expectations in nightlife.
- One Day This Kid – An intimate exploration of identity for a first-generation Afghan Canadian man.
- Every Other Weekend – A touching drama about a young single mother seeking a moment of freedom.
- Mercenaire – A powerful story of a man trying to reintegrate into society after incarceration.
- Perfectly a Strangeness – A visually stunning, dialogue-free short that delves into cosmic mysteries.
Showtimes at TIFF 2024
Catch The Yellow and the other shorts in Programme 02 at the following times:
- Friday, September 6 – 9:15 am & 9:15 pm (Scotiabank Theatre)
- Tuesday, September 10 – 1:30 pm (Scotiabank Theatre)
If you’re looking for something that’s as thought-provoking as it is entertaining, don’t miss The Yellow at TIFF 2024. It’s the kind of film that sticks with you, making you think twice about the world we live in—and laugh at the absurdity of it all.
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