Céline Roustan
Before acclaimed feature film Joyland, and before S/W pick Darling, filmmaker Saim Sadiq was a student in the MFA program of Columbia, where he directed the short film Nice Talking to You. Happening over the course of one night and one day, the pressure of a ticking clock pushes its two protagonists to seize the moment and act impulsively. Genuine and engaging, the film is reminiscent of Linklater’s Before trilogy, with two amazing performances and a magnetic chemistry.
When Zaib and Olie meet at an event where he is a photographer, it is not love at first sight, but after a few glances, there is a notable tension between them and Zaib’s impending departure from New York motivates her to go talk to him. At that party, the language spoken is ASL, and this is how the pair get to know each other. In a certain way, communicating by sign language allows them to be much more direct, and as they flirt with each other it comes off as much more honest than it would have been with spoken conversation.
Structured into three chapters, the narrative unfolds with a (not so) meet cute in the first, followed by the building of their connection in the second, and culminating with a reveal that changes their dynamic in the third. By having them be silent in the first two sections, New York’s background noise almost playing a character of its own, we see their attraction developing through their body language only. That contrast almost makes their bond feel easy and peaceful compared to the franticness of the city. As the camera follows them as they walk around the streets, getting to know one another, it’s almost as if they are on an adventure.
Colin Bates (L) & Bane Fakih star as Olie & Zaib in Nice Talking To You.
An attraction is definitely there and as we witness the building of this romantic connection we soon learn that it comes with an expiration date, prompting both to wear their heart on their sleeves, especially Zaib. Yet, Sadiq’s screenplay, co-written with Joe Capotorto, never becomes saccharine, with contrived emotions, or manufactures overly dramatic stakes. Instead, it is the authenticity that makes the film so compelling. It all feels so natural, with no unnecessary drama, and the emotions portrayed come across as genuine and believable.
For such a simple premise to be as effective on screen, as it is on paper, performances are paramount in its success. With so many close-ups, the framing is built around the two actors, Bane Fakih and Colin Bates, and their facial reactions. They both share a nuanced and subtle chemistry that immediately makes you want to root for them, while also immersing the audience in their story and showing the vulnerabilities of their characters.
Nice Talking to You had its World Premiere at the 2019 edition of SXSW. It went on to be selected at multiple festivals including the Palm Springs ShortFest, Hamptons and Encounters. Sadiq’s follow-up Darling was also incredibly successful on the festival circuit, winning awards at SXSW, Venice and more, before being expanded into the feature Joyland – the first Pakistani feature to be featured in Cannes, where it won both the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize and the Queer Palm. Joyland was also selected as Pakistan’s entry for Best International Feature Film at 95th Oscars, and was subsequently shortlisted.