Short film “Mildred and the Dying Parlor” proves intriguing with its cynical plot

By Allegra Papera

Online Arts Editor

 

Short film “Mildred and the Dying Parlor” makes the most of its twelve minute runtime,

combining a star­studded cast with a sinister plot, visually appealing setting, and frequent comic

relief to produce an overall impressive short.

 

“Mildred and the Dying Parlor” is a fantasy short film directed by Zosia Mamet that

explores a fateful day in the life of Mildred (Zosia Mamet), a teenage girl who lives in her

parents’ (Steve Buscemi and Jane Krakowski) dying parlor, where people go to gregariously

spend their last days before death.

 

The plot follows Mildred as she is convinced by her parents to go on a walk with one of

their clients on his last day on earth. At the end of the short, the story reaches an unanticipated

conclusion. This plot twist acts as the film’s strongest aspect, surprising viewers leaving

audiences to muse over her parents’ true intent for encouraging Mildred to go on the walk.

The film begins with Mildred explaining the dynamics of her family life in the dying

parlor, amusingly expressing her annoyance for it. Her extremely indignant attitude works as a

comic relief from the rather morbid premise of the film, refreshingly contrasting its different

aspects.

 

“Mildred and the Dying Parlor” is set in the family’s run­down yellow mansion tucked

away in the woods, which doubles as the dying parlor itself. The brightly colored mansion and

spooky location makes for an almost­cartoonish appearance, giving the short an aesthetically

appealing quality and intriguing viewers.

 

However, because of the film’s length, it was lacking strong development for any

character beside Mildred. While Mildred’s personality was conveyed through her narration, it

lacked any growth of her parents’ characters, taking away from what potentially could have been

the short’s strongest aspect.

 

Despite its poignant flaw, “Mildred and the Dying Parlor” was a thoroughly entertaining

film, using bizarre cynicism, aesthetically pleasing visuals, and comedy to engage and intrigue

audiences through its entirety.