The film follows Natalie, a grocery worker that has to face the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic at work. This time, she has to deal with a very stubborn customer as she tries to make her understand the guidelines of the store.
The film is accurate in portraying the reality that many grocery workers continue to face during this pandemic. Many customers do not follow the guidelines, which are just set to protect them and protect store staff. It is fun that the film adds comical details, maybe with the intention to make it not quite so serious. However, the story at times feels a little too long, since it is a back and forth conversation without any outside details or other characters involved.
The camera angles are appropriate and the backgrounds are easy to identify and associate with in terms of common places. Some shots where the characters are speaking are a little too close, as they are speaking directly to the camera and not to the other character. But overall, the camera work is good and realistically captures the facial expressions and gestures of the characters. The location is a grocery store parking lot. The background music adds to the comical scenes in the film and the absurdity of the conversation. Most of the time the music is playful as the characters go back and forth, but it increases in a tense scene, adding to the dramatic tone as well. The grocery worker is played by Natalie Mangiante and the customer is played by Venee Lotusfire Call-Ferrer. Both actors show a range of emotions - frustration, sadness, stress, anger and doubt. Even with the masks on, their eyes, tone of voice and gestures are express what the story is in a way that you can't miss. There is one scene where the grocery worker is so frustrated with the customer that, in a made-up scenario, she takes the bag and uses it to suffocate her. This does not occur during the film and is a brief sequence, but it may be something that parents would not be comfortable with or that children could imitate. My favorite part is when the film addresses the audience and in a message thanks the essential workers. During these difficult times, these workers are driving the country and they are risking their lives to protect others and help others. Some of them may have many necessities, fears, and situations at home, but they are constantly working to do the best that they can do to help those who are in a more severe condition or who are trying to keep the "normal" during these times. The grocery worker is played by Natalie Mangiante, who has acted in at least eight other films and has written and directed some of those same films. The customer is played by Venee Lotusfire Call-Ferrer.
The director explains that this is a film about a personal story that happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. The message emphasizes how simple it is to follow guidelines in order to stay safe and minimize the risk of being infected with covid and how bad people look when they do not do this and put their feelings over the safety of others.
I give What About My Bag? 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. The film shows a current and relevant situation that is occurring every day in the United States and across the globe. By watching this short film, many families will see how easy is to just follow guidelines and how bad it looks when we put our emotions or our pride before thinking about the impact that our decisions may cause in others around us. Reviewed by David O, KIDS FIRST! Juror
The film follows Natalie, a grocery worker that has to face the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic at work. This time, she has to deal with a very stubborn customer as she tries to make her understand the guidelines of the store.
The film is accurate in portraying the reality that many grocery workers continue to face during this pandemic. Many customers do not follow the guidelines, which are just set to protect them and protect store staff. It is fun that the film adds comical details, maybe with the intention to make it not quite so serious. However, the story at times feels a little too long, since it is a back and forth conversation without any outside details or other characters involved.
The camera angles are appropriate and the backgrounds are easy to identify and associate with in terms of common places. Some shots where the characters are speaking are a little too close, as they are speaking directly to the camera and not to the other character. But overall, the camera work is good and realistically captures the facial expressions and gestures of the characters. The location is a grocery store parking lot. The background music adds to the comical scenes in the film and the absurdity of the conversation. Most of the time the music is playful as the characters go back and forth, but it increases in a tense scene, adding to the dramatic tone as well. The grocery worker is played by Natalie Mangiante and the customer is played by Venee Lotusfire Call-Ferrer. Both actors show a range of emotions - frustration, sadness, stress, anger and doubt. Even with the masks on, their eyes, tone of voice and gestures are express what the story is in a way that you can't miss. There is one scene where the grocery worker is so frustrated with the customer that, in a made-up scenario, she takes the bag and uses it to suffocate her. This does not occur during the film and is a brief sequence, but it may be something that parents would not be comfortable with or that children could imitate. My favorite part is when the film addresses the audience and in a message thanks the essential workers. During these difficult times, these workers are driving the country and they are risking their lives to protect others and help others. Some of them may have many necessities, fears, and situations at home, but they are constantly working to do the best that they can do to help those who are in a more severe condition or who are trying to keep the "normal" during these times. The grocery worker is played by Natalie Mangiante, who has acted in at least eight other films and has written and directed some of those same films. The customer is played by Venee Lotusfire Call-Ferrer.
The director explains that this is a film about a personal story that happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. The message emphasizes how simple it is to follow guidelines in order to stay safe and minimize the risk of being infected with covid and how bad people look when they do not do this and put their feelings over the safety of others.
I give What About My Bag? 3.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. The film shows a current and relevant situation that is occurring every day in the United States and across the globe. By watching this short film, many families will see how easy is to just follow guidelines and how bad it looks when we put our emotions or our pride before thinking about the impact that our decisions may cause in others around us. Reviewed by David O, KIDS FIRST! Juror
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