WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Two Distant Strangers, now streaming on Netflix.
Two Distant Strangers, winner of the Oscar in the Short Film (Live Action) category this year, focuses on a young Black man, Carter (Joey Bada$$), who is trapped in a time-loop. It's in the same vein as 12:01 PM and Groundhog Day, as Carter tries to leave the apartment of his fling, Perri (Zaria Simone), to get back to his dog, only to be killed by a racist cop, Merk (Andrew Howard). It keeps happening, with Carter trying to figure out different ways and scenarios when it comes to avoiding death. However, while he does find a solution in the finale, the short has a very twisted and timely ending regarding the state of the world today.
After being choked and shot in multiple scenarios, Carter decides to try diplomacy and more so, empathy. He exits the apartment complex and heads over to the NYPD officer, immediately predicting the events on the street. Merk buys in, shocked over what's happening, but the one time Carter goes free, other kids of color are chased by the cop. He seems to run back to help them, only to be killed too.
It gets even more direct in the next iteration, as he actually gets Merk to drop him home. There, they discuss the state of politics and more so, how Black people are treated. Merk vouches for cops, mentioning crime and how Black people have a choice, but Carter talks about systematic oppression, profiling, white privilege and how the system actually forces them down such paths.
It's an insightful conversation, with both bonding and understanding each other more. They come to a truce as Merk drops Carter outside his place, shaking hands and agreeing to disagree. But when Carter leaves, it takes a dark turn when Merk begins clapping. He is in awe of Carter's "noble performance" as he yells "Bravo!" Merk declares the encounter the "best of the bunch," and as Carter looks back at the sinister cop, he realizes Merk knew about the time-loop all along.
In fact, Merk seems to be the architect of it, a white devil if you will, savoring every single time he gets to kill Carter. This is the 100th instance and as Carter tries to run, Merk shoots him in the back and says he'll see him again tomorrow. The pool of blood forms the shape of Africa, and transitions into a list of the many people of color who've died due to police brutality, including George Floyd, Travyon Martin, Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice and more.
It's very tragic and dour, but pulls no punches in pointing to reality as the film ends on "The Way It Is," clearly speaking to how Black people and minorities just can't outrun this social tyranny. It's a statement that they're locked in a vicious cycle by people who don't want to realize they're perpetuating injustices, or worse yet, who are enjoying them.
Two Distant Strangers, directed by Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe, and starring Joey Bada$$, Andrew Howard and Zaria Simone, is now streaming on Netflix.
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