Plastic Bag

Plastic Bag is an unusual short film written and directed by Ramin Bahrani that features a bag as its main haracter. Working with objects and giving them special attributes and values requires skilled narration. Turning an inanimate one such as a plastic bag into the main character of a film that maintains the audience’s attention is quite a feat.

Bahrani uses voice-over narration (by Werner Herzog) to infuse the images of the plastic bag with human qualities. The words set the context for interpreting the images. Also image associations are used to create relationships, both through composition (by placing elements within the frame) as well as through editing.

The subdued humor, existentialist themes and environmentalist message (recycling of plastic bags) turn it into an unpredictable and enjoyable short.