Ivan Kander

We humans are a strange bunch: capable of intelligence and reason, but also subject to the whims and drives of our emotions. It’s amazing how a “normal” situation can so quickly turn awkward and uncomfortable. We’ve all been there—an encounter in the grocery store checkout or subway platform. Should we intervene or just look at our phones and pretend it isn’t happening?

That exact social dynamic is what’s so artfully captured in Michael Karrer’s short 22:47 Linie 34. It’s an ostensibly simple piece: one shot from a single “fly-on-the-wall” angle. But, the complexity comes from the human interactions and the timing of how things play out. We watch (the POV intentionally makes it feel like the camera is a character in the film) as things build from playful ribbing to full on confrontation. There’s tension in the escalation but not in a suspense-horror genre sort of way; rather it’s about capturing that uncomfortable, pit-in-your stomach feeling of being in a situation in which you feel like you have no control, and where no option feels like the correct course of action. Should I get up and do something? Will that just make it worse? Should I just shut up and pretend this isn’t happening? 22:47 lives in that awkwardness.

22:47 Linie 34 is told using one static locked-off camera shot.

It’s somewhat surprising that the film is so engaging, especially when you consider the stationary camera angle and lack of traditional film “characters.” Verisimilitude is, to some degree, the aim of any filmmaker, but it feels like it’s Karrer’s sole driving motivation here. Fortunately, he succeeds. The encounter never comes off as staged. Moreover, events never wander into a realm of incredulity. Conflict starts small, builds, and ultimately fizzles…like in real life. On to the next stop…

It’s worth mentioning that Karrer captures just how intimidating teenagers can be (this is coming from a mid-30s man). A gaggle of rowdy teens can instantly make you feel like that chubby freshman all over again, and 22:47 Linie 34 perfectly conveys that degrading sensation.

Having had success with this student short (Palm Springs, Regard), Karrer is currently working on his first feature film entitled, Burning Fire.