Mute Date and the Wabi Sabi style of Director Cody Clarke

Mute Date

By Michael McGruther

Mute Date is a fascinating independent feature film from Brooklyn born and raised auteur Cody Clarke. It’s clever premise and very well written and directed film, makes this an instant perfect example of what can be done when story is the focus of the filmmaker’s ambitions.

The story begins when Noah Gutman (Played by comedian Anthony Kapfer) is awakened by the annoying sound of someone ringing the doorbell to his apartment. It’s a messy apartment too, indicating someone who cares very little for their surroundings. The sleep itself looks deep but depressing. There’s something sad and indifferent about Noah that is clear from the moment he wakes up.

The delivery person does not stop hitting the bell until Noah opens the door and when he does all he finds is a mysterious manila envelope addressed to himself.

The unexpected letter came from an an organization called Teller Labs and it informed Noah that he has been selected for an experiential blind date program and all he is required to do is take the one pill that is included in the letter and then report to prospect park at the time of his date where a match awaits who is doing the same.

There’s just one catch. The date is confined to the park and he and his date cannot leave until it’s over. The meeting point is set, Noah doesn’t seem to have much of a life or motivation to go build one so, having nothing better to do he gets cleaned up, pops the pill and off to the park he goes.

When he arrives, there’s a very cute girl waiting at the designated spot named Erica (Nina Tandilashvili) The moment Noah and Erica recognize each other and have a thought about it - they also discover that they can hear each other’s thoughts and understand that it is because of the pill they both ingested.

Noah and Erica in Mute Date

This is just the first of many surprising moments in Mute Date where the characters and the audience experience the same discovery at the same time and it is the mark of a master storyteller at work.

Noah and Erica find this discovery to be thrilling and new, so they embrace the weirdness and begin the date by walking around the park talking to one another without opening their mouths.

“It’s like better almost. I dunno. It’s like typing in the air but faster.” Is how Noah tries to explain the feeling of hearing his thoughts as if in a private recording booth with Erica.

Erica and Noah are so charming and convincing as they get to know one another - deftly directly by Clarke so they exhibited body language that wasn’t over the top, but perfectly communicated what was being said in their heads.

From here the movie really takes off and becomes infinitely enjoyable as their conversations reveal more and more about themselves to each other - and little did they realize - to Teller Labs who is listening in and didn’t approve of everything it was overhearing them discuss.

Director Clarke reels the audience in and then changes everything with one beep and a statement from Teller Labs, which now has some conditions and breaks into their conversation to announce a few. Ignore the rules and Teller Labs can silence you or physically punish you from the inside out.

Horrifying.

This new dynamic forces Noah and Erica to become subservient to the whims of their surprise oppressor, which is really a timely and perfect metaphor for the narrative that gives rise to cancel culture right now.

Teller Labs and it’s magical pill are the embodiment of self-editing your thoughts before they become words with consequences because the walls have ears.

Political correctness is only correct to the one’s it empowers over others. And in this case it’s a lunatic pharmaceutical company that is doing brain experiments on unsuspecting citizens who think they are going on innocent blind dates.

Mute Date goes many more layers deep and ends in such a way that I would prefer you see and hear for yourself. The budget was $500.00 and is a truly impressive story-driven film from a director to watch.

Enjoy the show-