Cranberry Juice feels like it's taking a journey through the main character's mind, where thoughts flow freely and unpredictably, much like the stream of consciousness style of authors I enjoy (like Virginia Woolf's diaries, kinda!).
I watched it at the Run N Gun 48 Hour Film Competition livestream, and had so much fun seeing how everyone used the surprise elements that year.
The narrative moves briskly, catching you off guard and swiftly moving on to the next idea, never waiting for you to catch up. And for every funny bit, it never feels like the narration is waiting for you to nod and react. It just says it, no imaginary "ba-dum-tss" in the back of our minds. Almost like it's saying "it's just how it is, nothing to look here. Now let's move on..." And I weirdly liked that!
The film also handles themes of sexuality in ways that are not preachy or heavy-handed but manages to challenge norms and expectations. The ending feels raw and authentic, perfectly tying into the competition's theme of "endings."
