AMERICAN QUARTET is an award-winning, sci-fi drama about hope and empathy triumphing over the forces of hate and division.

Set in the year 2037, the short film chronicles a day in the life of an immigrant named Noreen (Yekta Khaghani), who is attempting to find her place in the small town which is now her home.

In this near-future, a popular smartphone app allows users to record, store, and relive memories and emotions tied to pivotal events in their lives. Noreen uses the app as a personal diary which helps her navigate her new surroundings.

Unfortunately, many citizens of the small town are mistrustful of Noreen because of her immigrant status. Blinded by prejudice, they use the app to reinforce racist and xenophobic worldviews.

Motivated by her growing affection for a local civil rights activist named Antonia (Ieesha Watts), Noreen courageously shares her memories and experiences stored in her app with the local townspeople, trusting in the power of their shared humanity to overcome their bigotry.

Watch the short’s official trailer here:

AMERICAN QUARTET - co-written by Erin McGulf-Pennington and Adam Grannick, with direction by Jesca Prudencio - is a beautiful, captivating, and impactful viewing experience due to its timely themes and unconventional storytelling conceit:

During the short’s entire nine-minute runtime, not a single word of dialogue is spoken.

Instead, the filmmakers opted to convey the narrative’s dramatic beats using only the facial expressions and body language of the short’s remarkable, talented cast.

This is important to note, because in the hands of less capable actors, the short’s messaging would not translate, rendering the entire project an indecipherable exercise.

Not to worry, because the short’s themes ring out in pure, pristine notes due to the powerful performances of the cast - as well as the fluid and dynamic direction provided by Prudencio.

Ultimately, AMERICAN QUARTET is created to be a visual complement to the gorgeous music of composer Antonín Dvorák as performed by the Dover Quartet. This innovative storytelling convention is a wild success and a fitting tribute to the invaluable contributions of music in film.

2020 was an extremely difficult year due in large part to the issues of racism, polarization, and hate AMERICAN QUARTET addresses. I find it comforting serendipity that at the close of this horrid year, a marvelous sci-fi short film about the power of hope and human empathy to defeat hate and division is released for public consumption.

Now that is music to my ears.

You can watch AMERICAN QUARTET in its entirety on Facebook: AMERICAN QUARTET On Facebook.

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