If you had no money and could not find a job, would you be able to take some risks in order to make ends meet? Michael and Dima Leonidovich are in the same situation and their response to this question could not be more different.

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Dima has to find a job because his father Michael can no longer work after sustaining an injury to his right hand. After his attempts of finding work fail, Dima accepts a shady job offer from his authoritative father. Situated in a dark room we find an electric chair, a microphone and a few sheets of paper. This is the point where the story starts to become captivating and hence more and more interesting. Dima's job is to tell the test subjects several pairs of words which they have to memorize; if they get them wrong on the second go, they are given an electric shock, beginning with 30 volts and ending at 450.

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Director Elena Riabtceva manages to create an ever present tension throughout the short film, using the eerie soundtrack and the grim setting, building up to the climax when Dima has to administer the electric shocks to his own father. Matching the characters' grievances towards each other with the words of the test, the rapid-fire exchange of remarks between the two characters is a very well written and directed scene which keeps us on the edge of our seats.

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'Take The Heat' asks an important question to the viewer: how far are you willing to go in order to make some money?

 

The short film portrays the difference between the two characters, one being comfortable with doing whatever it takes, the other refusing to give up on his morals for monetary gain. What would you do if you were in the same position? Watch the film and decide for yourself!

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Written by Vlad A. G