Play Me Like That

"Play Me Like That" invites you into a world of color and big emotions. This story offers a tiny taste into the sometimes chaotic, often profound, world of sibling relationships and finding meaning in our lives. As a psychologist and sister, I found myself moved with the familiar tension between loving & longing, as I watched the two sisters work through some of the big existential questions: how do we connect to eachother and how do we leave an impact in the world?

Paired with ample play, laughter, and meaningful music I found it a great invitation to connect not only to the characters but to the familiar emotions they portrayed. I highly recommend to those that want to laugh, cry, and reflect on what it means to be human.

Now I want to know what happens next!

"Play Me Like That" is a rare short film that crams a feature's worth of experience into a brief 24 minutes of screen time, giving a glimpse into the epic attempts of two sisters to navigate frustrated dreams. This complicated sibling relationship is layered with richness by screenwriter (and key cast member) Nicole Gabriella Scipione, whose character is both free-spirited and winsome, teetering on the brink of an abyss that others hint is of her own making. Her too-calm sister, a foil played tenderly by Alina Phelan, tries to moderate her sibling while yearning for the courage to emulate her. Both manage to woo the audience to stay close in spite of increasingly volatile emotions.

It's an insightful microcosm, helmed by Julianna Robinson who balances the pathos of the theme with the script's comedic relief, giving Silas Weir Mitchell (who also produced), Pamela Shaddock, and Onahoua Rodriguez moments to shine. With accomplished cinematography by Matthew Kohnen and a surprising wealth of music, this production by Scipione, with producer Samantha Curley of Level Ground Productions and Mitchell's Phantom Limbs Plays & Pictures, realizes the beauty of the short film format, and, like the best of them, deserves repeated viewings.

'Play Me Like That' is a powerful short that explores sisterhood, sacrifice, and love with care and depth. Scipione delivers a standout performance that feels deeply authentic. Her emotion is captivating, and she carries the story with grace and honesty. Every moment she is on screen feels real and lived in.

The dynamic between the sisters is both tender and complex. The film is beautifully shot, with music that enhances each emotional beat. This is a heartfelt and memorable piece that leaves a lasting impression.

I would love to see this expanded into a feature. Scipione's performance deserves it.

This tender, whimsical short film explores the complex layers of sisterhood, longing, and love. With moments that are laugh out loud funny and also deeply moving, the film balances its emotional core with a vibrant city backdrop, quirky, yet relatable characters, and poetic narration that will linger long after. At the center is the radiant Nicole Gabriella Scipione, writer and lead, whose performance is breathtaking. She brings raw vulnerability and warmth to the screen, portraying a woman caught between dreams and the beauty of acceptance. An honest and emotionally resonant piece. A celebration of family, promises, and the truths we must face. It's a film worth watching more than once.

A tender and refreshingly honest portrait of sisterhood, this short film captures the quiet complexities of love, resentment, and reconciliation between two women. It thoughtfully explores the rarely depicted emotional terrain of two sisters at a crossroads, as they face a life-changing decision that will alter their relationship. The performances from the cast are superb and heartfelt. What comes about is a film that takes you on a journey of the heartbreaking and hopeful, as our protagonist comes to terms with the unexpected and her own personal journey and hopes for motherhood. A reminder that what we plan for and expect might not always be what we receive.