CELL ADORE FILM FEST - Scrable

Anthony Hett’s Scrabble is a story of friendship and understanding. Hett’s short follows Salif (Bhasker Patel), an Indian laundromat owner and his employee, Mary (Gillian Daniels), a kind older woman. Over the course of the day, the two pass the mundanity by having tea and playing a game of scrabble. While Salif deals with a niece who wants a job to which he tells her he can’t afford to employ her. Mary suffers from dementia, as is shown when she forgets little things, has trouble being able to remember a customer who knows her and begins talking about her husband who has passed. After his niece brings up Mary’s employment, Salif tells her that Mary began showing up randomly months and she won’t stop coming, even after bringing this up with her. 

The dementia plot is played subtlety, with the word never being said but the implication is there, thanks to the quiet and tender performances by Patel and Daniels. Both are able to fully submerge into their characters thanks to the film’s use of long takes in many scenes, with the standout being the initial reveal of Mary’s illness. 

Scrabble is a kindhearted and subtle display of friendship and the effects of dementia anchored by two strong performances of its leads. The film is yet another promising showcase for its writer/director, Anthony Hett.