Leah works at a call center that provides companionship – a listening ear for its callers. While the service is powered by AI, Leah monitors the calls and ensures smooth customer service. One night, drawn to a regular customer she is fond of, she overrides the AI and takes over the conversation. S/W alum Joanny Causse (Cigales) is back on S/W with Rachels Don’t Run, a film that might have once simply qualified as sci-fi. However, what truly sets it apart is its potent emotional depth and how it explores loneliness and grief – making it such a powerful and compelling watch. 

“I have always been interested in stories about individuals behind tech”, the director shared with us when discussing the origins of the story. Co-Written with Steph Kwiatkowski, Causse also explained how they wanted to explore how emotion blends with technology, touching on themes like “intimacy and boundaries”, investigating “complex feelings like grief in a programmed reality”, and the dehumanizing aspects of our increasingly digital lives. Which ultimately led them to crafting a lonely protagonist in a situation that combines all these ideas into one single, moving narrative.

While the setting is very tech-oriented, Causse’s film remains grounded, with very human emotions at the core of the narrative. There is an authenticity in the screenplay that immediately invites us into the intimate moment at the heart of Rachels Don’t Run, where the protagonist shows herself in her most honest version – this rawness making the film deeply engaging and touching from the viewer’s seat.

In addition to themes of grief and loneliness, Causse’s short also explores the desire to connect with someone who shares our experience – a very human instinct, which makes the film relatable. All these complex and nuanced feelings are what lead Leah to become Rachel – despite Rachel being designed to have no emotional reaction or genuine compassion. And when Isaac responds, his reaction not only wraps the film with a dash of humor, it gives the film its title and also brings up questions regarding human connection and empathy. 

The only actor on screen throughout Rachels Don’t Run is Sera Barbieri, in the lead role, and DP Jacob Rosen captures her performances by placing his camera very close to her face, as much of the depth in the film lies in what is being unsaid. Barbieri is particularly impressive in how she captures the subtle shifts of emotion with remarkable sensitivity and nuance. From the boredom of her routine to the excitement from that spark of connection, from feeling heard and understood to being discarded, she navigates the ups and downs with a captivating authenticity that makes the character so endearing. It’s this performance that makes the ending of Causse’s short so compelling and so devastating. 

Rachels Don’t Run made its mark on the festival circuit during the 2021/2022 season, screening at notable events such as Go Short and Winterthur, and picking up awards at festivals like Seattle and Fantasia, among others. Causse is currently developing several new projects  – including a feature version of Rachels Don’t Run and a feature documentary about traditional healing and the science of pain.