“Spider” (Director: Nash Edgerton) (Writers: Nash Edgerton/David Michôd)
Synopsis from IMDb: Jill is annoyed with Jack, ignoring his attempts to get her to smile as she drives a city road. She stops for petrol, and while she’s filling the tank, he goes into the station’s mini-mart and buys a bouquet, chocolates, and a few odds and ends. While she’s paying, he sits in the passenger seat, strewing the flowers and things. She pushes away the flowers, starts the car, and resumes driving, staring straight ahead. He peels the paper off a chocolate and sets it on the dash near her hand. She takes it. He sets out another; soon she softens, then, she folds down the visor. Has Jack made things right again?
Cast: Nash Edgerton (Jack),Mirrah Foulkes (Jill), Chum Ehelepola (Gas Station Attendant),Bruno Xavier (Gas Station Attendant), David Michôd as (Hit Driver), Tony Lynch (Paramedic) and Joel Edgerton (Paramedic)
Awards:
2007
AFI Festival: Won – Short Award
Sydney Film Festival: Won – Audience Award, Best Short Film (The Satellite Venues)
2008
Anchorage International Film Festival: Won – Best Super Short Film
Aspen Shortsfest: Won, Jury Award Best Comedy; Won – Hi-Five To Lo-Fi Award
Flickerfest International Short Film Festival: Won – Best Editing an Australian Short Film
Indianapolis International Film Festival: Won – Audience Award, Best Short Film
Nashville Film Festival: Won – Honorable Mention, Best Narrative Short
San Sebastián Horror and Fantasy Film Festival: Won – Best Narrative Short; Won – Audience Award, Short Film; Won – Jury Prize for Best Short, Short Film
St. Kilda Film Festival: Won – Audience Award, Best Short Film
Sundance Film Festival: Won – Short Filmmaking Award – Honorable Mention
2009
24fps International Short Film Festival: Won – Best Editing, Short Film; Won – Audience Award, Best Short Film
For those interested, Nash talks about the making of “Spider” below
Review:
Blueprint: Review [David Brook]: “A simple one-gag comedy-short that works surprisingly well due to some accomplished naturalistic direction and performances. A nice touch at the end, although unnecessary, went down well with the audience too
Boston Globe [Wesley Morris]: “Finally, “Spider,” by Nash Edgerton, uses tired, violent effects for the sickest joke of all. It offers tragedy and romance as gags, featuring an Australian couple on a drive. I gasped twice. But as well-delivered as its shocks are, this film is cleverness in the service of cruelty.”
Michôd's Kingdom 