I very rarely use the word “beautiful” to describe a film. Perhaps I’ve seen too many movies in my 36 years. Maybe I’ve become jaded after enduring a glut of disappointments and disasters. Well, once in a while I am completely taken by surprise and see a movie that reaffirms my belief in the medium I love so much. All it takes is a little ingenuity and a lot of heart. You can tell when a filmmaker is passionate about his/her project and not just going through the motions to land a fat paycheck. Writer/Director Sean Ellis turned his 2004 short Cashback into a feature in 2006. In doing so, he created a beautiful film with a beautiful sentiment.

Art School dropout Ben Willis just dumped his girlfriend Suzy. The fact that Suzy moves on so quickly isn’t sitting well with Ben. He has contracted a severe case of insomnia. His inability to fall asleep leads to a nightshift job at a local supermarket. The clock moves slow in the wee hours of the night, but Ben has a unique way of dealing with it: He freezes time. This odd trick of the imagination allows him to study the female form up close and personal. His latest object of desire is a sweet checkout girl named Sharon, who dreams of traveling to foreign lands. She and Ben form an immediate bond. Ben’s initial fascination leads to a crush. He wishes to bring Sharon into his frozen world and share the artistry that only he can see. However, a surprise encounter with ex-girl Suzy could ruin his relationship with Sharon before it gets started.

I’ve seen more than my share of movies about young love. Most fall somewhere between awful and tedious. Cashback separates itself from the rest by being original and offbeat. Sean Ellis conducts a symphony of sumptuous images aided by an ethereal soundtrack. Watching Ben navigate his static existence in silence, save his poetic narration, is spellbinding. It might appear gimmicky at first glance, but Ellis wisely limits the sessions, which adds to their effectiveness. Ben is not your typical lovelorn sap pining away for some unattainable goddess. He is circumspect and mature; a true romantic who appreciates everything about women – especially their innate beauty.

Sharon’s significance to Ben is twofold: she is the target of his affections, but also a muse for his art. Ben sees her completely. He imagines her in a sexual fantasy, but admires her ambition to travel to South America. She is the definition of a “true love” type figure and therefore represents something that none of the women from Ben’s past has. His feelings for her are a departure from the control he possesses within his frozen world. There, he can position his models as he sees fit, as if pieces on a chess board. In the real world, this is an impossibility. Fear, insecurity and jealousy dominate reality. These emotions cannot be halted or eradicated. Life and love cannot be put on pause. But if we take the time to notice the beauty that surrounds us, life can be much more pleasurable.

Sean Biggerstaff’s portrayal of Ben is quite compelling. He brings a natural charm to the character. one could label label Ben as a creep, but Biggerstaff sells him as an eccentric who marches to his own beat. A colorful cast of supermarket co-workers provide plenty of laughs to an otherwise serious story. Stuart Goodwin is especially memorable playing Ben’s lascivious boss, Mr. Jenkins. As I stated before, movies detailing the angst of young love are a dime a dozen. Most inevitably fall short of capturing the real emotion all of us have encountered. Count Cashback among the select few that get it right. Also be on the lookout for Sean Ellis, a gifted filmmaker with a promising future.

The trailer for Cashback:

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