Ruben is a charmer who works magic with the ladies with his good looks, gentlemanly grace and charisma. One day, he comes across Isabel at a café. Ruben starts a conversation and the two hit it off. He does not know that Isabel is there waiting for a blind date and neither does Isabel. They enjoy each other’s company so much that Isabel soon forgets all about the date she is waiting for. Their relationship grows steadily until one day, the disgruntled date shows up during one of their meetings. Angry at being passed over, the ‘blind’ date wants revenge. Ruben remains a helpless spectator as Isabel is raped in front of his very eyes by the intruder at gunpoint. Little does Isabel know that the entire sequence of events was not a chance happening, but the culmination of a well laid out conspiracy, masterminded by Ruben.
‘Symbiosis’ is a short film by director André Badalo. Andre starts the film by establishing the well-appointed office of a therapist, setting the tone for the psychological suspense thriller that is to unfold. The well handled cinematography captures the charm of the fine art of seduction, without taking sides either with the predator or the prey. The writing keeps the elements of the grand reveal well cloaked until its moment, and the performance of the actors keep the eyes riveted on the ball till the last moment. ‘Symbiosis’ contains multiple layers in its screenplay and the performance of the actors bring out these layers only with repeated viewings after the intrigue is out of the way.
‘Symbiosis’ is not about the gullible victim nor is it about the gruesomeness of the act by a very unlikely perpetrator. It is about how twisted minds can work together to create something so sinister that it would be unable for even the most accomplished of gate-keepers to decode. ‘Symbiosis’ follows these twisted minds as a silent spectator who is shocked by the depravities that exciting of these minds and how they find symbiotic partners for such nefarious acts.
