The perfect murder does not exist – we know it, and we have heard it a thousand times, but time proved that some creative criminals left little to no trace behind. Planning the perfect crime is hard, it needs time and a lot of preparation, many loose ends, nothing can be taken for granted, but in the end, if done correctly, it brings some sick satisfaction in the heart of the wrongdoer. ‘Don’t Smoke in Bed’ is one of those movies that try to tackle such a grim subject in a very mild and artistic way.
The story gravitates around Maureen, played by Ellie Poussot, a woman married to a professional gambling man who feels that life has lost meaning for her. Her husband Henry, played by Nikolaos Brahimllari, is disrespectful and often has an abusive attitude towards her. There are a million reasons why Maureen should leave him and find love again, but the problem she is facing is that she does not know for sure how to do it. During the last part of their relationship, Maureen eventually works on a bulletproof plan to leave him and return to normal. ‘Don’t Smoke in Bed’ is one lesson that should be learned by everyone out there with the habit of smoking, as it may be the last thing they do at some point.
This short is simply beautiful! The setting, the props, and the costumes are revitalizing a bohemian spirit we have rarely seen in short films. The cinematography is spotless, and alongside the narrative, it makes ‘Don’t Smoke in Bed’ one of the most coherent movies we have seen recently in terms of storytelling. Also, Ellie Poussot is breathtaking! The character of Maureen is tough to manage as it has to be weak and extremely powerful at the same time, and Poussot does an incredible job in doing so. Every word that comes from her mouth is incredibly believable, and every sentence has the candor of a biblical verse.
A short film like Dritan Kastrati‘s ‘Don’t Smoke in Bed’ can easily make you fall in love with a particular type of cinema, and can even make one pretentious, unsuspecting viewer give short films a second chance.
Written by Vlad A. Gheorghiu