Céline Roustan
Are you experiencing twin withdrawal after Dead Ringers? Well suffer no more, Pennies from Heaven is here for you! Although tonally different, you will still get twin shenanigans (no trickery here, they are actually played by sisters this time) and I dare you not to laugh at this insane, absurd and hilarious gem, directed by Sandy Honig. Rare are the films that find the perfect balance to make such a bananas concept land, so buckle up and enjoy the ride!
Cher and Jacobson-Schmidt are twins working in a convenience store, who after a robbery gone right (for the sisters anyway) find a truck full of pennies and adventure ensues. While at first sight the siblings appear to be a little eccentric, it turns out the whole universe they live in is that way. This film is definitely what would be qualified as “all over the place”, but in the best way possible. With this level of absurdity, it’s a hit or miss situation and Honig definitely hits! By committing 1000% to the absurdity of the concept, it actually comes together, crafting a very singular and effective comedic tone.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about the image of them driving a pickup truck full of pennies through the desert”
Written by Honig and Annabel & Sabina Meschke, who portray the leads, it feels like every single line of the film contains a joke. Given the tone of the film, the performances were paramount in the delivery, making the writing collaboration between the actresses and the director essential in honing their specific brand of comedy. Honig credits meeting the twins as the first spark of inspiration for the short saying that she “was immediately obsessed with them”, adding that “they’re the absolute funniest, sweetest girls with the coolest style”. However, she shared that it all materialized when during lockdown she was “ listening to music and looking at the gorgeous California landscape, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the image of them driving a pickup truck full of pennies through the desert”.
“We worked really hard to turn a silly comedy script into something gorgeous”
While the film is a comedy, it does have an impressive visual flair with a spectacular attention to detail. The visual aesthetic immerses the audience in the distinct and so welcoming universe of the film, which makes it easy to sign up for its absurdity. “I wanted to find a distinct visual style to elevate the comedy and sought out the best DP in the universe Ben Mullen (Empath, Souvenirs, Bye Bye Body). We worked really hard to turn a silly comedy script into something gorgeous.” If you pay attention to all the details from the framing, to the set design and the props they use, everything is cleverly used to enhance the jokes of the film.
Ultimately, in addition to one hell of a funny short, Honig created a space for Annabel & Sabina Meschk to shine! This is their film! Their infectious positivity is what makes you initially sign up for the insanity of it all and as they manage to push the concept to its limits, without ever overdoing it, their delivery is impeccable. Truthfully, the film left me wanting more from these twins and I would happily watch their further adventures, as their back and forth chemistry is simply a happiness provider.
Pennies from Heaven had its World Premiere in the Midnight program of the 2023 edition of SXSW where it won the Midnight Shorts Special Jury Award. The film premiered online as a Vimeo Staff Pick.