Weird Kisses: A Psychedelic Hyper-Pink Pop Trip

-Ashley Allard

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We all have that one weird kiss we hate to love fantasising about. Some are weirder than others, like an afternoon three-way kiss on a basketball court. But relationships and desire are messy and weird, covered in saliva and sweat. We are all so clumsy and repressed when in love and lust, and that’s what Billie Elizabeth is all about in her newest short film, Weird Kisses.

Weird Kisses is a tri-city journey and explores the complicated intimacy between three different groups of people; A couple in Seattle, two roommates and a possible third, and two sexually-repressed friends in New York. Together, they collaborate from across the globe on a music video, but, despite the distance and culture difference, their lives are not so different.

In Johannesburg, KB (Tina Redman) finds a connection on a rooftop with Mpho (Hlumie Moloi), yet they have some unresolved sexual tension with their roommate Sean (Sasha Karlin). In Seattle, Brooklyn (Harlie Sullivan) films a music video (for KB) with her partner Lula (Nat Puff), which goes inevitably wrong. And in New York, Jeremy (Sydney Mae Diaz) and Connor (Jared Gilman) shoot hoops and talk about their sex lives and how they’re just trying to figure out what they like.

All these very different people are all connected beyond the artistic project. They all are dealing with intensely repressed sexual desires and emotions; secret crushes, secret conflict, secret wants for a threesome and secret aversions to a threesome.

Because of all these secrets, a lot of the plot is left unsaid. This, in particular, is what showcases Billie Elizabeth’s incredibly deft directing, as most of the conflict and tension is illustrated through perfect quick shots of secret glances, raised eyebrows, bitten lips. The smallest movement gives away that which is hidden from the other.

Despite the film’s short length, each relationship is explored with the same amount of profundity. These relationships are very real, fuelled by love just as much as jealousy or lust. The characters are well-rounded and relatable — a trait that must be accredited to the incredible cast.

Weird Kisses is visually hypnotic. This short film exhibits excellent colour-grading (done by Jack Mohler), with claustrophobic neon, warm and dulcet ambers, soft sunlight and blues. Each city is given its own colour palette, creating a recognisable and beautiful setting for each narrative to play out in.

As the plot revolves around a song (produced by Galen Tipton) made by KB, the score (engineered by Keith Rankin) plays a crucial role in the story-telling. Switching from angelic choral verse to static techno, the music makes itself known in fun and playful ways.

Although most of the film plays out in the US, Billie Elizabeth remains true to her roots, having the Johannesburg narrative remain quintessentially South African, with South African slang and South African problems (loadshedding being one of them). Billie Elizabeth marries the two countries she has called home in this piece, seamlessly threading multiple lives and cities together to create something weird and wonderful.

Weird Kisses depicts the increasingly complex narrative of sexual and romantic relationships —underscoring the distinction between the two — and embraces this weird liminal grey area between repression and expression. But this is nothing new: We are only just now talking about it. And what a fun way to talk about it, with hands grabbing fishnet-stockinged thighs and sloppy wet kisses juxtaposed with furry art.

Weird Kisses makes a point to show that we are not alone in our weird kisses. So, maybe do go and kiss that friend. See what happens.