Short Films Without Dialogue

I was checking out my Vimeo feed this morning and, coincidentally, I stumbled upon two very different pieces that do not feature any dialogue. These two examples made me think of how many times we've been asked to create something that transcends language - in other words, something that wouldn't require translations or subtitling.

Square Peg from Mighty Nice on Vimeo.

THE DIG – The First Film Shot on Sony’s CineAlta VENICE Full Frame Camera from Sony Professional USA on Vimeo.

Ohio

Brent - consider this your guide to L.A. when you arrive.

Everyone else - It's a little long but there's a really curious thing going on with the production of this piece. They set up the main character through a series of candid, impromptu conversations with strangers in L.A. But then it almost seamlessly transition into a typical narrative. I can't tell if the dialogue is just written really well or if the two characters just riffed a lot.

Ohio from Andrew DeYoung on Vimeo.

Dialogue in Film

I recently watched Only God Forgives, by Nicholas Winding Refn, the director/writer of Drive. Watching Drive and Only God Forgies was a different experience for me because I'm so used to - we're so used to - hearing the story play out via dialogue, with visual elements aiding. He flips it by saying, "Okay, how can I tell a story with the camera, sound, and music and without a great deal of dialogue." Take a look at this interview at 33:20, as he starts to explain this.