Everyone's Going to Die is a funny, sometimes very, very funny, British debut independent film, set on one day in Folkestone. It is the story of Melanie and Ray, two very different people both lost in their lives. They meet a couple of times by chance and, having nothing better to do, spend the day chatting and trying to help the other figure something, anything, about their lives.
The film avoids an instant spark type set up, which could have drifted into cliche, with little more than boredom the original reason for continuing their conversation. Although at first there is nothing to suggest these people would get on, as the film unwinds, the friendship begins to make its own kind of sense.
Nora Tschirner is perfect in her role (very early on I worried we were about to get an Anglo-German take on the Manic Pixie Dream Girl - but this is a fully reaised character, grounded in reality, quick-witted and easily amused). The deadpan performance from Rob Knighton is also effective and surprisingly the actor's first feature film. The unexaggerated characters make the occasionally absurd humour all the funnier as it feels so much more likke real life.
The directors are also on their first feature but they are very adept at bringing together a naturalistic atmosphere, well reaised sense of place, cool soundtrack and both comedy and drama in a way that both make the film feel light and fresh but also emotionally touching. They allow the actors to shine and give us characters well worth spending the day with. Definitely one of my highlights of EIFF.
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