Cyclops At The Cinema

Strangers in A Room

The power of independent film is in telling stories that don’t often get told, and is just that sort of powerful cinema. Directed by Andre Rehal, Strangers in a Room focuses on veteran actor Jae (Jonathan Kim), as he explores a large life choice. Its beautiful cinematography enhances Kim’s engaging performance, and reflects Jae’s turbulent inner world.

Strangers in a Room is a physically beautiful film that tells the sort of story Hollywood doesn’t want you to hear. Its name is a reference to the audition process — where actors and actresses are judged by strangers in a room — and the audition in question is particularly difficult one for Jae, who is already struggling with questions of what happens when dreams and identity collide. Jae, who is a veteran actor, attends an audition, where he gives his name as Jacob — but that’s not all that he must do to secure a role.

Beyond the microagressions (and I’d even say macroaggressions — there’s no doubt about the racism in play at his audition), the entire situation grows more complicated when a video about the incident goes viral. What should be an exposure of how nasty industry politics collides with systemic racism instead becomes an emotionally devastating catalyst for Jae. Now…