Watch The Back of Her Head

The Back of Her Head is a short film from 2007, directed by Joshua Safdie. The film has a runtime of just nine minutes and stars Charlotte Pinson, Josh Safdie and Stephen Schneider. The movie revolves around a young woman named Sheila, who has been dating a guy named Tim for around six months. One morning, she is getting ready for work when Tim comes over to her apartment for a surprise visit. They start cuddling in bed when Sheila suddenly stops and tells him that she can't stop thinking about this other guy she likes.

Tim is understandably upset and Sheila tries to make him feel better by saying that the other guy is not interested in her. To prove her point, she shows Tim a photograph of the guy. The photograph is of the back of the guy's head and we never see his face.

After Tim leaves, Sheila goes to work and we follow her through her day. She has a mundane job at an art gallery, but she is clearly distracted by thoughts of the other guy. Throughout the day, we see glimpses of her interactions with her boss, her co-worker and her clients, but the focus is always on Sheila and her thoughts.

The film is shot in black and white, with a hand-held camera that follows Sheila closely. There is no dialogue except for a few mumbled words here and there, but the soundtrack is filled with street sounds and background chatter, which adds to the realism of the film.

The Back of Her Head is a study of modern relationships and the complexities that come with them. The film explores the themes of lust, love, jealousy and regret with a subtle touch. It is a poignant reflection of the way people today are constantly distracted by the endless options that technology provides.

The acting in the film is superb, with Charlotte Pinson delivering an understated yet powerful performance as Sheila. Her facial expressions convey a range of emotions and the camera work captures the slightest nuances of her performance. Josh Safdie and Stephen Schneider also impress in their brief roles as Tim and Sheila's boss respectively.

One of the most interesting aspects of the movie is how it deals with the concept of objectification. Sheila is infatuated with the other guy, but we never see his face. We only see the back of his head, which makes him a mere object of desire. This is further reinforced by the fact that Sheila works at an art gallery, where she is surrounded by objects of beauty that are displayed as commodities.

Overall, The Back of Her Head is a beautifully shot and well-acted film that explores complex themes with a delicate touch. It is a prime example of the power of short films to convey deep emotions and thought-provoking ideas in a brief period of time. If you have a spare nine minutes, this is definitely worth a watch.