The Silver Lincoln

This short film is about a very obsessed young man who eats, drinks and thinks about his penny collection. He and his grandmother spend a lot of time together looking through pennies and putting them in his albums. However, what could be a nice hobby has gotten out of hand because all he can think about is obtaining the most valuable Lincoln penny. One day, when he sees a customer with this valuable coin among his change, the nerdy guy goes about getting the coin in the wrong way. Instead of just explaining himself, he awkwardly asks the guy to see his change. The man naturally thinks the collector is a nut and leaves. So, in a comedic twist, the collector follows this guy around town in order to get that penny. Eventually, he gets it...and forgets what's really important in life.

This is a decent film that left me torn. While some of the film is definitely funny, the ending is anything but funny--making the film an odd combination of comedy and poignant drama. It's tough to squeeze two such opposite feelings into one short film. Although the acting and direction were fine, the film did seem confusing because of this rapid shift in mood.

By the way, after seeing this film, if you see a silver-colored penny, don't get too excited. 1943 silver-colored coins are actually made of zinc and aren't particularly valuable.