Tune For Two

Tune For Two is a short film by Swedish director Gunnar Järvstad about an unexpected connection between an executioner and his victim. Two characters, a snowy landscape, a gun, a shovel and a freshly dug grave are the few elements that compose this short.

Staged in a natural environment, the use of subjective POVs and close-ups on the victim’s face help introduce the narration through the victim’s POV. The film uses codes from the crime/mafia genre, but soon strays off the tracks, playing with audience expectations.

Music plays a key role, as it functions as a disrupting element that momentarily creates a bond between the two characters, taking over the narrative rhythm of the short. There’s also some interesting use of sound to heighten tension, as well as acting that helps build suspense (such as the hesitation of the executioner).

What makes Tune For Two work so well? The elements of surprise, dark humor, great acting and unexpected change in “discourse”.