Response to The Arrival

Daniel Montanarini 2006 short film called 'Arrival' which follows a pregnant woman's inner monologue as she waits in a café to tell the man this news. She debates in her head whether or not to keep it, eventually coming to a decision at the end of the film, just before the man arrives.

This film is very artistic and theatrical. It consists entirely of the expressions of the woman (Anna) and her fluid inner monologue conveyed with a voice-over, sometimes based on the decision but sometimes veering off as the run of thoughts go off tangent. It is like the cafe is her stage, from the spotlight on the lead actress to the over-the-top expressions to the well blocked extras in the background emits drama. Montanarini's camerawork is effective,  he uses a simple zoom-in as the scene progresses, building to the climax of the film which is a train going past the window as Anna reaches her decision, this is ambiguous - it can be seen as literal, metaphorical or even both.

I think all of these features achieve a cinematic, personal but simplistic image.
Personally I liked this portrayal, the use an internal monologue in a voiceover makes it more realistic and relatable, including a familiar setting. For my own film, I would like to include a similar technique of making it theatrical and cinematic, as well as using a simple setting so that the focus is more on the personal inner turmoil of the character.