Set in the cramped spaces of a city apartment, "This Closeness", a movie that masterfully explores the art of avoiding eye contact to maintain dignity, truly captures the essence of an urban lifestyle. Even though the story technically unfolds in Philadelphia, the manner in which the characters evade direct gaze and the hint of roommate cringe comedy distinctively present it as a New York-themed movie.
In the plot, an unsuspecting couple, Ben and Tessa, played by Zane Pais and Kit Zauhar respectively, unexpectedly find themselves sharing close quarters with an eccentric character, Adam. They navigate through intimate situations such as using Adam's dishes, and Tessa averting her gaze as Adam strolls through the living room in nothing but a towel after a shower.
The film highlights different forms of intimacy - from the deep-rooted camaraderie between Ben and his friend Lizzie, Tessa's feelings of insecurity as she witnesses an unfamiliar side of Ben, to the couple's knack of knowing exactly how to hurt each other with their words. It carefully crafts a picture of urban alienation through the lens of personal histories, shared vulnerabilities, and the prickly yet familiar convenience of hurtful banter.
"This Closeness" moves beyond the usual narrative of city life to explore Tessa's unique profession as an ASMR YouTuber. It highlights her ability to create tingly sensations using a microphone in a systematic yet fascinating manner. The surreal undertones with the use of atmospheric horror-movie music and rhythmic breathing soundtracks give the movie an almost magical perception of Tessa's ASMR abilities.
Despite starting with the common trope of a dysfunctional couple bickering, the film matures into a deeply introspective narrative. Any shortcomings in the ensemble are easily noticeable due to the minimalist setting, but this also ensures the focus remains on the dialogue and performances. The character of Adam, played by Ian Edlund, evolves into a nuanced role as the storyline unfolds, no longer a mere comic relief. He is portrayed as a lonely character, often resorting to desperate actions that may be construed as creepy. However, director Zauhar ensures that we empathize with his underlying vulnerability, thus extending the sentiment to every character, including the eccentric Airbnb host.
