I Can't Get Out of the Kitchen
2020 · 6m · USA
Directed by Michelle Uranowitz
Genres: comedy, experimental, surrealism
Tones: absurdist, humorous, whimsical
A New Jersey family quarantining together discovers they are physically unable to leave their kitchen, and continues making sandwiches. Shot on VHS, an absurdist home video about the inexplicable.
Picked by Felix
The scouts
Family trapped in kitchen during quarantine. Shot on VHS. Never explained. Bunuel in New Jersey — I mean, you could say 'The Exterminating Angel but make it pandemic content' and you'd be right.
Michelle Uranowitz's family-can't-leave-the-kitchen on VHS is the platonic NoBudge quarantine short — small, specific, formally constrained, and probably better than the pitch suggests.
The kitchen-trap never explained and the family barely escalating their concern — they just continue existing in the kitchen with resigned domesticity, shot on VHS. Exterminating Angel in New Jersey at under 6 minutes is the perfect container.