On the latest episode of Reel Shorts, a woman desperately seeks to change the direction of her life and find her voice but must overcome formidable odds and an abusive spouse in the solid drama, Things Never Said.
Audio Review
Kalindra (Shanola Hampton) is an emerging spoken-word poetess, someone who willingly speaks her thoughts, but she’s an artist who has yet to find her voice. A native of California, Kal has dreams of taking her poems to New York and the infamous Nuyorican stage. Haunted by a miscarriage and saddled with Ronnie (Elimu Nelson), a husband who’s angry and without direction – he uses his fists as a form of speech, Kal tries desperately to find an outlet for her struggling voice.
The story begins and ends with the great chemistry between Hampton and Hardwick in a story spotlighting a woman who has been beaten down by her husband and circumstances but still maintains an indomitable fighting spirit. Hampton, who many will know from her role in Showtime’s Shameless, portrays Kalindra with an earthiness that is both earnest and endearing.
Trying to make the best of an unpleasant situation, the universe throws her a lifeline in the form of a vulnerable artist, Curtis Jackson (Not 50 Cent) played by Hardwick. Their shared infatuation and later physical interaction are reminiscent of Theodore Witcher’s fine film, Love Jones.
While Kalindra dreams of blessing the famed Nuyorican stage, Jackson has simply stifled his voice but begins to regain his confidence with her love and affection. Much like Darius’ powerful ode to Nina in the aforementioned Love Jones, Jackson’s declaration to Kalindra and her later reply, may not be on the level of the celebrated Brother of the Night, but both pieces are powerful in their own right and wonderfully executed by Hampton and Hardwick.
Based on writer/director Charles Murray’s experiences with his mother, his script provides a safe haven for both of his actors to shine and they do indeed. The two leads are solid in yet another effective film that deserves a much wider audience.
Grade: B