Debut: Life Is All About The Little Moments In ‘Contours’

Life is full of moments we take for granted. Small pieces of our days are lost to time–or, oftentimes, to life itself. For those seeking to be present in the moment, to fully take in their surroundings and appreciate what lies before them, look no further than Aisha Amin’s Contours. The short follows a couple who are looking to reconnect and recover the depth they once shared. They meet at a museum, using the pseudonyms Van (John Autry II) and Spirit (Lauren Ridloff). Despite a tumultuous start, the two eventually reconnect through an elaborate sculpture.

While simple, the narrative flows like one of the many works of art featured in the short. There is an overwhelming ease as if one were watching a private capture of time. This simplicity, however, works in tandem with the ebbs and flows of the couple’s dynamic. Even through the tension, their connection is undeniable. Intense eye contact and close-ups filled with longing hint at the unique nature of the relationship that is to come.

Like all couples, Van and Spirit’s relationship is not without its troubles–and, in their case, there are many. The reason they are role-playing and at the museum to begin with is because their relationship is in jeopardy. The spark has fizzled, and life has taken over. The date starts okay, and the role-playing initially works for the two, but it falls flat when they begin to get intimate. 

Van has on the incorrect pair of underwear, not the red ones Spirit had specifically requested he wear. The need to plan everything so specifically reveals major problems in the relationship as it is, but the add-on of Van’s perceived lack of effort tears them apart further. The miscommunication spirals into the two parting ways, planning to head home separately. An unexpected savior awaits them, however.

The third character of the narrative, so to speak, is a convoluted sculpture that sits as a bold centerpiece in the museum. While clearly a feat of talent, the sculpture is initially nonsensical. It stands tall, curving and flowing back into itself. Both Van and Spirit study the sculpture independently, taking time to analyze it. After the miscommunication, which has now become a full-blown fight, they find themselves back at the statue together.

The relationship very well could have ended there, and Spirit alluded to them being over during the fight. Their reason to stay has been lost to time, but it is not gone forever. When looking at the sculpture, they are silent, but still communicating. Van eventually speaks about the sculpture, saying some of the most pertinent words of the film: “Is it a representation of the soul? Definitely a bit lonely. Sad. But hopeful. Infinite. It feeds itself. Everything it needs is there. Except maybe to be seen.” The sculpture is then synonymous with their relationship. Their depth is undeniable, and this sculpture matches this. Convoluted, yet deeply beautiful. 

Cinematographer B.P. Edwards’s framing of the art in the short is admirable; the medium becomes a language through which Van and Spirit communicate. It is a language that only the two of them have access to, allowing audiences to be flies on the wall. This is greatly enhanced by the work from the two lead actors, both of whom give stellar, nuanced performances. Even in moments of conflict, the two balance each other, allowing the relationship to feel wholly authentic.

The short closes with the two of them caressing the sculpture hand in hand. The two are deaf, and yet, even without sound, the short film remains a full-blown sensory experience, never shying away from sitting in silence and appreciating every detail of the moment. Something as simple as running a hand along a sculpture is electric, saying more about the two’s connection than words ever could.

If Van and Spirit had never stopped to slow down and acknowledge where life had led them, their relationship would have met its premature end. By reconnecting with their roots and rediscovering a shared passion, they rediscovered the missing piece. It was always there. Their shared history and relationship were never in question, but enjoying it, savoring every last part–that is the real treasure found in Contours.