Written and directed by Pardeep Sahota, Loretta, a working-class British Asian woman, attempts to navigate a turbulent world, a new stranger in her life and un-skippable adverts. Starring: Bairavi Manoharan, Jay Taylor and Viraj Juneja.
The concept of mixing love and technology has been around for a long time but now that type of artificial intelligence is appearing to be on the horizon, there’s never been a more relevant time to explore it. Which is exactly what Pardeep Sahota does with OK/NOTOK, except instead of creating something creepy, horrifying or a depressing evaluation of society’s lack of compassion, Sahota has fun with it.
Coming in with a style that feels as though it has been pulled directly from the stage is an interesting choice. It creates a nice, simple set-up that cleverly requires very little change but can shift with lighting and decorative choices. Allowing the focus to be on the quality of the aesthetic which is sharp and very modern. It can feel a little bit stiff without that added element of movement but as it’s a short with only a dozen minutes or so, it’s a minor issue.
Sahota’s dialogue is smartly written, especially bringing through that aspect of robotic speech. It doesn’t feel forced, instead actually feeling like a person who just speaks in an extremely purposeful, logical and commercial manner. It lets the story flow better rather than getting caught up on the AI nature of it. It does slightly limit things at times, it’s hard to create that element then also bring through a more emotional side for Loretta (Bairavi Manoharan), but it does strengthen in the later moments when she’s alone.
While Jay Taylor and Viraj Juneja are very much there to create a specifically constructed vibe, not giving them too much room to play around with their roles, they both do really well. They bring the hint of personality that keeps their characters interesting while holding onto the artificial foundation. Whereas Bairavi Manoharan gives us the heart of OK/NOTOK, she creates a very sympathetic loneliness and a highly relatable character. She also brings a sweetness and vulnerability to the mix.
OK/NOTOK is a great blend of sci-fi and rom com, taking a very relevant issue and turning it into a charming comedy. The visual quality is extremely strong, particularly the lighting work, there’s a fantastic aesthetic which highlights its stage like setting. Some things can feel a touch too purposeful or constructed but it’s a tricky line to walk with this topic. It’s funny, well shot and has a great cast.
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