The COVID-19 pandemic led to lockdowns across the country and companies figuring out how to have the staff work remotely. A few people pondered the state of filmmaking during this time about keeping a safe distance. A film production involves a lot of people standing near each other and breathing. This is a fine way to pass and catch the disease. Major productions carried on with stringent health checks and quarantine bubbles. Smaller films couldn’t afford such costly strategies to keep cast and crew healthy. Then filmmakers realized that while discussing what to do during meetings over Zoom and Skype; they could make movies only using Zoom and Skype. Many of these projects were based around people stuck at home during the lockdown. Which is fine although a lot of viewers didn’t want to be reminded of what they’re going through. They could always just record their own Zoom chats for the isolation experience. Natalie Morales (The Middleman & Plan B) and Mark Duplass (Humpday & The League) came up with a non-Pandemic scenario as to why two characters would only interact through Skype calls for the course of a film. Language Lessons uses the technology to create a film that goes beyond these times to give us a timeless tale of compassion.
Adam (Mark Duplass) gets a birthday surprise when his husband (The Morning Show‘s Desean Terry) signs him up for a conversational Spanish tutorial class. Adam is rather shocked since he’s a creature of routines and had no plans for Cariño (Natalie Morales) popping up on his laptop screen. He’s even more shocked discovering Will has signed him up for 100 weekly lessons. But Adam did mention wanting to speak Spanish again since his father’s job had him spending time in Mexico. Adam’s husband was looking out for him. The lessons start out cute as Adam screws up a few words in his conversations with Cariño. But then things go bad when tragedy strikes. Adam is in an emotional free fall when she calls in for their regular lesson. She helps her student calm down by giving him a tour of the woods near her place in Costa Rica. The two go beyond just being a student and teacher on an online tutoring session. When something happens to Cariño, Adam is equally concerned for her. But does she really want his support? The movie explores how two strangers can develop a relationship over a video feed.
Language Lessons feels like you’re accidentally getting a feed from a real facetime call. There are moments when the internet feed slows down, the camera goes out of focus and the audio isn’t quite sharp. Just like a real Skype call. They do move around their houses so we’re not staring at the same wall behind their work laptop like your Zoom meetings with co-workers. Visually, they keep you from zoning out like a real Zoom meeting. This is essentially a two person piece with Desean Terry speeding by the camera in the beginning. Mark Duplass and Natalie Morales get deep into the characters that go through a lot emotionally within themselves and each other. There’s a great connection between the two even though they aren’t even close to being in the same room. Duplass and Morales create a poignant intimate film that feels like it was just them and their laptop/smartphone cameras. Language Lessons is a beautiful small film that might also get you interested in buffing up your Spanish skills.
Language Lessons is available on Digital and On Demand starting October 26.
Shout! Studio presents Language Lessons. Directed by Natalie Morales. Screenplay by Natalie Morales & Mark Duplass. Starring Natalie Morales, Mark Duplass and Desean Terry. Running Time: 91 minutes.
