Chicago, 1942. This short film-noir, shot entirely in monochrome, is set in the darkened office of a private investigator. The film is a conversation, a power struggle between two men, Michael Ciccio, a local down and out, and Johnnie Finn, a local PI.

The room is lit only where our protagonists sit and the whole conversation takes place within the narrow confines of the lighted area. The smoke and partial lighting provide an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia as the two men battle for power. Johnnie Finn is a menacing, brooding character whose nonchalance only adds to his menace. He conveys feeling with his eyes and very few words. He is not intimidated by threats and knows how to deal with people, having worked his way through the lower ranks of the Giacobazzi family before going “legit” with his own PI business. He is still loyal to the family but likes to keep a low profile. His hair is jet black and slicked back and he smokes a cigar throughout. Michael Ciccio is a man low on his luck. His brother was killed yesterday and business at his wood shop is poor. He is plump, and knows it. He has very low self esteem and stutters because of it. Because of his nervousness he over tells every story, including every detail, and sometimes fabricating to make it seem more real to the listener. This causes his stutter to worsen. Michael nervously massages his flat cap throughout the film, which annoys Johnnie.

Media

Listen to The Conversation score by Jeremy Couper