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Googly Eyes

Rated: Not Rated

        It’s not often, when watching something for the first time, that it reminds of something completely different, but such is what happened when I first starting watching the recent short from Simon Savelyev Googly Eyes. Within the first minute and a half of the film the thing that popped into my head was the old song by Neil Sedaka, Breakin Up is Hard to Do, especially the last few lines of the song:

“I beg of you don't say goodbye
Can't we give our love just one more try?
Come on baby, let's start anew
Breakin' up is hard to do”


       I can’t tell you when the last time was that I heard that song, or why at that moment, while watching a short film, it decided to pop into my head, but now that I’ve made the mental association it’s hard to shake.
Director Simon Savelyev high fives Talton Browning on the set of Googly Eyes (Photo courtesy of Simon Savelyev)

Director Simon Savelyev high fives Talton Browning on the set of Googly Eyes (Photo courtesy of Simon Savelyev)

 
        Googly Eyes is touted as, “A breakup comedy about life, love, and the dangers of Q-Tips.” The film follows Gary, a 30-something slacker, whose attempt to handle his recent breakup, his ex-girlfriend Suze, and an earache all fall comically short.

        In the film Gary attempts to search for meaning within the events in his life by trying to say that things, (such as the googly eye) are metaphors. After watching the film I’m convinced the whole thing is a metaphor: a metaphor for how hard it is for people to change, and how we all tend to hang on to the familiar, even when all that’s left of it is a single thread.

        The film starts out innocently enough, with a lighthearted and somewhat absurd feel, but by the end the mood changes to one more thoughtful and introspective. After Suze leaves the apartment and their interaction is over, it seems that things start to dawn on Gary, whether he wants them to or not. He may not totally see the error of his ways, but he starts to take the first steps towards acceptance, which is all we can do in most cases.
Gary and Suzy inspect what's fallen out of Gary's ear in Googly Eyes (Photo courtesy of Simon Savelyev)

Gary and Suzy inspect what's fallen out of Gary's ear in Googly Eyes (Photo courtesy of Simon Savelyev)


        Writer/director Simon Savelyev has created a 14 minute tribute to all out there who are stumbling from young adulthood to middle age. He has somehow managed to capture the hesitant uncertainness that people of this age try so hard to hide, and has presented it in a way that is both goofy and touching. Whether you’ve recently gone through a break up or not, Googly Eyes will leave you with a feeling of comforting satisfaction and a smile on your face.

        Googly Eyes is not rated, was written and directed by Simon Savelyev and stars Cooper Barnes and Laura Spencer.  It’s available to watch now on Film School Shorts. More information about Simon Savelyev and Googly Eyes can be found here:
  • Googly Eyes on IMDB