-Written by Kyle Bain.
We’re all familiar with the saying “two tickets to paradise” thanks to the famed Eddie Money. Well, in the case of Martin (Brice Fournier) Two Tickets may be the cause of struggle, the cause of anxiety. Or, they may be the cause of something bigger and better. Living on his own, Martin has fallen in love with his routine, with the meticulously detailed schedule by which he lives. Those two tickets may just change that forever.
A quick bit on Writer-Director Mazen Haj Kassem. This is the third of his films that I’ve had the pleasure of watching, and each one of them possesses a slowburn of emotion that effectively creeps up on viewers just as time is about to expire. He has mastered the art of emotion in his films, and Two Tickets is no different.
The emotional aspect of the film makes sense. The idea that someone feels alone and needs someone to talk to, to express themselves–that all makes sense. However, there’s a part of this film that I can’t wrap my head around. Again and again there are characters that express that they aren’t interested in money. Attempting to deny a raise at work, refusing payment for a service they’ve provided, etc., Two Tickets showcases some individuals that don’t fall in line with the values of real people (at least not people that I’ve ever met). On the surface it makes no sense. However, as I sit and reminisce on the film, it’s dawning on me that this strengthens other aspects of the narrative. It makes me sad that people can be incredibly selfish in the real world, and that’s why Martin suffers.
I initially felt that Two Tickets ran a little slow, that the important aspects of the film lingered in the background for too long. Upon reevaluation, however, it seems that Kassem has developed an effective story that is effectively paced. It seems that nearly every moment, no matter how insignificant it initially seemed, played an integral role in the grand scheme of Two Tickets.
Much of the success of the film, particularly the use of those aforementioned (seemingly insignificant) scenes, stems from the simplicity that Kassem employs throughout. Sometimes films take it too far, trying to be the first to do something or to include specific ideas and themes. Those things can hinder a film’s success, and ultimately make it more challenging to appreciate. The simplicity present in Two Tickets allows viewers access throughout.
Again, Kassem is well aware of how to structure a film, how to develop emotion, and how to get the best out of each and every moment of his productions. Two Tickets is no exception to this, as it works on a number of levels throughout. Emotionally is where Two Tickets works the best. I think it does take a bit of time to understand that the emotional components of the film do, in fact, work–but once realized, it’s clear how relevant they are and just how well they work.
Written & Directed by Mazen Haj Kassem.
Starring Brice Fournier, Martin Baucher, Marie Bredow, Sarah Loss Bor, Mohamed Benazza, etc.
8/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
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