Dim The Fluorescents

Dim The Fluorescents is an exceptional Canadian drama-comedy film from 2017 directed by the accomplished Daniel Warth, and featuring the talents of Claire Armstrong, Naomi Skwarna, and Andreana Callegarini-Gradzik. The movie is a love letter to the art form of theatre and a reflection on the beauty that arises from the struggle of living a creative life.

The film centres on the lives of Audrey (played by Claire Armstrong), an aspiring and passionate actress, and her roommate Lillian (played by Naomi Skwarna), a struggling playwright. The duo finds themselves in the unique, often comedic, but nonetheless difficult predicament of living in a world where their talents are not fully appreciated nor required. The lack of available work in their respective fields forces them to resort to an unusual form of performance art; they perform corporate role-playing demonstrations that communicate the various instructional practices corporations want their employees to adopt.

The titular fluorescents refer to the harsh, often unflattering, fluorescent lights of the corporate world which Audrey and Lillian find themselves performing under -- a sharp contrast to the warm stage lights they so crave. Their performances for business seminars and management training sessions gradually become ambitious theatrical productions, marrying the mundanity of corporate life with the spectacle and emotion of theatre. Through this, they find a strange comfort and purpose even as they continue to long for the chance to shine on a real stage.

Lillian crafts these corporate scripts with the essence of Shakespearean drama while Audrey delivers them with an intensity and flair akin to Broadway performances. Silent office boardrooms become their stage and indifferent corporate employees their audience. Yet, in these daily performances, Audrey and Lillian's artistic spirits are never doused; their creativity burns brighter with every assignment, every character, and every line.

The film explores friendship, ambition, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of art in a world that rarely appreciates it. Director Daniel Warth perfectly balances comedy and drama, leading viewers on a rollercoaster ride of emotions that reflects the characters' journeys. As we descend into Audrey and Lillian's world, we find ourselves rooting for their ludicrous performances, for their dreams, and for their friendship.

A real highlight of the movie is the dynamic performances by the lead actresses, Claire Armstrong and Naomi Skwarna. Armstrong skillfully portrays Audrey’s larger-than-life persona that contrasts, complements, and coalesces beautifully with Skwarna's delicate, introspective and thoughtful portrayal of Lillian. The duo's on-screen chemistry adds depth, charm, and authenticity to the narrative.

Andreana Callegarini-Gradzik plays Fiona, a character whose interactions with Audrey and Lillian reveals aspects of their personalities, challenges, and dreams that form an integral part of the plot.

Producer Josh Clavir and director Daniel Warth, manage to capture the mundane world of corporate culture, and brilliantly juxtapose it against the vibrancy of theatre, creating a memorable visual imagery.

While ostensibly a comedy-drama, 'Dim The Fluorescents' brims with heartfelt, existential, and humanistic themes, begging us to question the value of art, creativity, and companionship in an increasingly corporatised world. The film delivers both uplifting and desperately poignant moments, the bittersweet nature of creative ambitions, and the unconditional companionship between two women thrust into an inhospitable world.

Overall, 'Dim The Fluorescents' is an ode to the resilience and dedication of artists everywhere who, despite the odds, persist in their pursuit of art, snatching every opportunity, however, unusual it might be, to express their creativity. More than anything, it’s a story of friendship and a shared commitment to the power and beauty of art.

Paying homage to the theatre while providing a unique, darkly comedic take on corporate culture, 'Dim The Fluorescents' is an engaging, bittersweet, and refreshingly innovative film that is bound to linger long after the credits roll. It serves as a reminder of the beauty, power, and significance of art in our lives irrespective of the stage on which it is presented. If you’re a fan of sharp dialogues, nuanced performances, and stories that appreciatively celebrate the agony and ecstasy of being an artist, then Dim The Fluorescents will definitely prove to be a thoroughly enjoyable cinematic experience.