Antonio Padovan's stellar SOCKS AND CAKES is a bittersweet drama about friends who don't really know each other and people who do not even know themselves.
Five friends meet for a dinner party at an apartment in Greenwich Village, but the party turns out to be something more, as each individual brings their baggage to the party and unloads said baggage all over the place, with startling results.
Take Harry, (Timothy J. Cox) a misanthropic literature professor, down on life, who when he's not trying to date one his students, is still carrying a torch for his ex-wife Amanda (Kirsty Meares) who is now married to Harry's best friend, Richard (Jeff Moffitt), an architect. They've having problems of their own, due mostly to Richard's wandering, lustful eye. Add real estate whiz David (Ben Prayz) and his current sexual conquest Sophie (Alex Vincent) and you have a party.
The tag line for the film is "All will be revealed," and it is, although I wanted more. This film, which now clocks in at about 15 minutes, has feature potential. The characters are sharply, etched portraits of people in turmoil; turmoil about where their lives have gone and where they haven't.
Timothy J. Cox brings considerable warmth and heart to the role of the downtrodden Harry, a man who wants to feel again, feel anything...to have passion and joy in his life again.
Kirsty Meares is magnetic in the emotionally demanding role of Amanda, bringing a searing rage as a woman coming to grips with the loss of her second marriage.
With his Cheshire Cat grin, Ben Prayz scores as the hot shot David, while Jeff Moffitt and Alex Vincent provide palpable sexual tension in their flirtations as Richard and Sophie.
SOCKS AND CAKES is one worth seeing!