Purposeful and sharp, Sam Manacsa's short film is a stirring portrayal of labor exploitation amidst keen writing and vibrant cinematography.
Those who work in the labor force know the exhausting suffocation of churning in overtime work shifts with less benefits coming out of it. This stasis workers faced has seen slight yet unmoving changes, where the methods of exploiting their time and energy have detoured, but those issues still screw them up to this day. More upfront in modern times due to the presence of the internet, but the initial screwups still linger all around the workforce, an experience that a lot of the lower to middle class has to face.
In ‘Cross my Heart and Hope to Die’, Sam Manacsa offers a view of that work struggle through Mila’s presence, one coaxed through literal self-suffocation and lovestruck optimism that keeps her sane amidst wage cuts and overtime shifts. Right off the bat, Sam Manasca’s script immediately shines through with how remarkable and potent the dynamics and mannerisms between Mila and the other characters present in the scene. Able to capture such natural tension and nuanced emotions that allows Jorrybell Agoto’s fantastic performance to truly ingrain what Mila is feeling in the entirety of this short film with enough exposure of the issues of the working class in just the right moments.
The sense of purpose in the script is also shown through the production set and the cinematography, from limited setpieces with maximalist prop placements to static wide shots with atmospheric lighting abound. These meticulous choices from Sam Manasca deeply elevate the story she has written even further and clearly show her focus on the vision she has for this short film, where Martika Ramirez Escobar's cinematography showcases the distant exhaustion that Mila has from her workplace, and how the atmospheric lighting gives a sense of vibrancy to the 90’s designed lived-in sets that’s filled with grit and clutter.
This short film is a stirring turn of events executed greatly through Sam Manasca’s keen grasp on her artistic direction. This has led to every single element land precisely where it needs to be, resulting in showing what Mila and other workers like her have to face with wondrously purposeful shots, sets, and performances. Delightful from start to finish, ‘Cross my Heart and Hope to Die’ conveys a level of sharpness in Sam Manasca’s skill as a director and as a screenwriter, where every detail planned overall ends up scoring a bullseye.