Shakti (2019)

Welcome back for another installment of Mubi Monday! This week we switch gears a bit and take a look at another short film with…Shakti (2019).

Title: Shakti

Director: Martín Rejtman

Released: February 9, 2019 (Berlinale)

Runtime: 19 minutes

Available to stream: Exclusively on Mubi (have a month of Mubi on me!)

Fede’s (Ignacio Solomonese) grandmother has recently passed away. The same day that she passes, Fede decides to also end things with his girlfriend, Magda (Valentina Posleman). As a result of all of this, Fede spirals into a deep depression.

To try and help lift his spirits, his friend Ulises (Patricio Penna) decides to take Fede out to a club. Fede winds up bringing Shakti (Laura Visconti) back to his place. While at his place, Fede and Shakti spark a joint which leads to Shakti wanting some food.

Luckily, Fede knows exactly what to get. He goes into his freezer and pulls out some knishes. They heat them in the toaster oven and Shakti can’t believe how good they taste. It’s at this point that things go south for Fede. He informs Shakti that they are the last thing he has from his grandmother and that she died two months ago.

Understandably, Shakti is a little taken aback by the statement. In fact, she’s grossed out by the fact that she’s eating something from a dead woman and leaves Fede’s apartment. After the Shakti fiasco, Fede finds himself in another pit of depression.

Will his therapist be able to help him through it?

Is there something more that Fede needs to work through?

Despite having a runtime of only nineteen-minutes, there is an awful lot going on in Shakti (2019). However, Martín Rejtman manages to take grief, mental health, societal class, and relationships and then sprinkle in some humor along with heart to deliver an enjoyable short film.

While it does tie a bow on things by the end, I was left wanting more. I could have spent another ten to fifteen minutes with Fede, especially after that twist reveal.

I don’t want to say too much as to not spoil anything. But if you get a chance, carve nineteen minutes out of your day and give Shakti (2019) a watch.

So, if you have seen Shakti (2019), I want to hear your thoughts.

Leave a comment below or reach out to me across social media!

As always, you can follow me over on Letterboxd to see what else I have been watching.