Clarities (2026)

-Written by Bryan Miller.

2026 SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!

Clarities, directed by Michelle Uranowitz and Daniel Jaffe, is a silent short film structured as a vignette of disparate lives, all connected by a mysterious, recurring text message.

So… What works?

Thematically, this short is quite compelling. The concept of a digital "chain letter" or mysterious message intersecting the lives of various individuals is an enduring trope that usually opens the door for exciting narratives. I particularly enjoyed the film's attempt to explore the duality between technology and religion, highlighting how both forces exert a powerful, often overwhelming impact on our individual identities.

Now, what did not work?

Structurally, however, Clarities is all over the place. While the individual "micro-stories" are intriguing on paper, they never quite landed for me. It felt as though the directors had several solid ideas that weren't fleshed out enough to remain interesting. Some of the vignettes included an emotionally neglected wife who inexplicably gains telekinetic powers, a scientist so desperate for significance that he physically enlarges his own body, and a woman who finds a divine sign in a "SHELL" gas station logo after feeling cursed. While these concepts are imaginative, they aren't presented in a way that generates genuine investment or empathy for the characters

The "silent" aspect was also a major point of frustration. It wasn’t that the characters weren't speaking; it appeared they were, but the dialogue was simply omitted from the final cut. In its place, the filmmakers overlaid a musical score that, in my opinion, failed to reflect the story's intended message. This stylistic choice frequently pulled me out of the narrative rather than drawing me in.

Overall: 

All in all, Clarities feels like a bit of a mess. While there are glimpses of an interesting premise beneath the surface, the film fails to weave its threads together effectively. Without a cohesive emotional or narrative anchor, it’s difficult to care about the characters or stay invested in their journey.

Written & Directed by Michelle Uranowitz & Daniel Jaffe. 

Starring Michelle Uranowitz, Nigel Defriez, Julia Crockett, Katie Porter, Michael Potts, etc. 

5/10 = WORTH THE RISK, BUT YOU’VE BEEN WARNED