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A 3-act film based on a script written by one person with the three acts directed by 3 different directors, ORDINARY DAYS looks at an event from three different points of view. The fact that each act is directed by a different person offers the film different perspectives, though a disadvantage means a kind of disjointed storytelling. Whether the tactic works is arguable but credit should be given to the filmmakers for the idea where different timelines also intersect, a tactic used before though not that often in films.
A spill on ORDINARY DAYS is given by the lone character in the second act which explains one reason the phrase was chosen as the film title. The event the three acts examines is the mysterious disappearance of a bright somewhat rebellious teenage college student over the course of 5 days.
The film is bookended with the student (Jacqueline Byers) jogging along the road. Each act is entitled by the main character in the act. The first act is titled Marie (Torri Higginsson), the worried mother of the disappeared daughter. The second is called BrightBill (Michael Xavier), the bright detective who uncovers relevant clues of the case and the third Cara, the missing teen.
The first act deals with the parents, who is clear still love each other tremendously though a few problems exist in their relationship. (Which couple never has problems?). When the mother Marie fails to hear from the daughter, she suspects something odd. The father (Richard Clarkin) brushers the worry away but is blamed later for not doing anything when they had a chance. Marie calls a detective, Bill who slowly but effectively covers relevant clues. The last act follows Cara as she drives her car into a ditch which explains what has happened.
The first two acts are quite good and both absorbing watches. The first proves that the drama in the parents relationship is more interesting than the mystery of the missing daughter, credit to director Canning. The second act takes off at a tangent with a new look at the detective and his life. The last act that resolves the mystery is the least absorbing one and is a let down to the tension built in the first two acts. The third act shows Cara stuck in the crashed vehicle for 5 days. One can hardly blame director Jeyapalan as this is limited material. How interesting can you make a 30 minute segment with a person trapped in a car?
What is impressive about the film is the script that is often filled with layered dialogue. A the lines are spoken, emotions between the speakers are revealed when one reads between the lines. For example, when the husband apologizes, the words “I am sorry,” show both his sincerity and regret as well as the ups and downs the marriage goes through. This must be just one of many incidents as the husband appear to have gone through the situation may times.
The film’s ending requires once agin the viewer to read between the lines. ORDINARY DAYS is a more than an interesting film, well put together and ultimately satisfying and entertaining.
Festival Reviews 