Easy on the Eyes

Written and Directed by Nick Wenger
Photographed and Edited by Manny Knowles
Total running time: 5:55

Easy on the Eyes is a story about a man who just can't seem to help looking at other women. Finally, his partner is fed up with it and removes his eyes. In searching for the hospital the next day (his eyes in his hands to help him navigate the route) he continues to look at other women. He again learns his lesson by losing his eyes completely. The short ends with his return home, defeated, and his lovely partner takes him inside.

I like this short because it takes a very common set up to any normal narrative and puts a twist on it. The overall message is similar to the normal narrative - that you should appreciate what you have. However the journey taken to make this realization a reality is unique because the metaphor isn't needed in this presentation. Once his eyes were taken out, his eyes were actively and literally distracting him from what he really wanted (and as he wanders the street, what he really wanted was obviously a hospital).

Whats important to note is that, aside from the occasional grumble, this short has no dialogue. The narrative is executed through other means such as body language or facial expression. Music in this film plays a large role, as it represents a growing curiosity, for example, when the man looked down the waitress's blouse. The scene where the woman is about to scoop out his eyes is made even creepier with the music to accompany it. This curious tone is maintained in his journey, as a flute or some wind instrument continues to deter him from keeping on the straight path.

And at the end, when the flute is the indicator of all his wanderings throughout the film, the music almost turns on itself to demonstrate that what he was really looking for all along was the one he was already with - the one who scooped out his eyes...