Socks and Cakes

Rated: Not Rated

        It’s endlessly interesting the way people’s entanglements become apparent, especially when a meal is involved. There are countless films that portray a group of people, either family members or not, sitting down for what should be a fun and relaxing evening, only to have it go awry somehow. Films such as The Perfect Host, Clue, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Dinner for Schmucks and many more all center around this theme. I can’t decide if the fascination with these films is because it’s an attempt for people to see families ultimately more screwed up than their own, or if it’s simply that people want to see what it’s like “on the other side of the fence.” Either way, movies about dinner parties are inherently interesting studies in human behavior, and ones that always garner a wide audience.

        The short film
Socks and Cakes by Antonio Padovan is another great example of how something as simple as a dinner party can go horribly wrong, especially when exes and wine are involved. The summary says the film is about, “Five people of different ages, backgrounds, cultures and tastes who find themselves at a dinner conversing with each other about their lives and where they see themselves in the future. Some deeper, hidden secrets emerge, and just when it seems all is to be revealed...all is still kept secretive.”
It started out innocently enough...

It started out innocently enough...


        As with other films of this nature, it all starts out innocently enough. The husband and wife invite two other couples over for dinner. Half of one couple shows up alone, while the other couple has only just met. By the end of the night lines are blurred and it’s clear none of them are exactly who they seemed in the beginning.

        In part it is the awkward and uncomfortable nature of
Socks and Cakes that makes it great. The looks on each character’s face as they listen to the garbage spewed forth by whoever is talking at the moment, the utter disgust and contempt these people feel for one another-emotions so strong they cannot hide it any longer- these are the things that make these characters both despicable, and relatable. Why is it that the downfall of the seemingly perfect makes people so happy? Who knows, but that is one of the satisfying elements in this little film.

        Another satisfying element contained within this 15 minute human nature study is the breaking of the so-called fourth wall by the character Harry Mogulevsky. Harry is played effulgently by the talented Timothy J. Cox, and it’s soon clear just how entangled this group of people are. As Harry walks from the living room to the kitchen to refill his wine glass, he addresses the audience directly, explaining who all of these people are and why they’re there in the first place. This brief aside sets the tone for the rest of the film, and gives the audience a point of reference as the events continue to unfold.
...But quickly went south

...But quickly went south


        Since making
Socks and Cakes in 2010 Antonio Padovan has gone on to work on near a dozen other films. I have yet to see any of the others, but if this line from his IMDB bio is to be believed-In his films, he usually focuses on common people and ordinary problems-his other works are probably just as interesting and enlightening as this one.

        Socks and Cakes is not rated, was written and directed by Antonio Padovan and stars Timothy J. Cox, Kirsty Meares, Jeff Moffit, Ben Prayz and Alex Vincent. More information about the film and Antonio Padavan can be found here:

  • Socks and Cakes on IMDB
  • Antonio Padovan on IMDB