"Charlie" (2015) A short film by Shawn Ryan, who also stars in the leading role.
It is Christmas Eve and Charlie (25ish) is on his way to a family party with him mom (and her lover???). She is mercilessly berating him for being stupid, emotionally unstable, and a failure at life. One gets the feeling that this is an ongoing conversation/lecture.
Charlie reaches his limit...asks to get out the car and promptly throws up. While the two in the car now get into their own argument Charlie wanders off. He eventually finds himself in the backyard of a suburbanish home, where he collapses.
He awakens (in a mute state) to the hustle and bustle of a family (Mom, Dad, daughter and son) getting ready for a Christmas Eve outing....to include Midnight Mass. The family (loving, tight knit, spiritual but not religious, and gregarious) open up their home and their hearts to this stranger. He is FULLY and unconditionally included in their holiday celebrations....something Charile is clearly not used to, but something that moves Charlie deeply. Through their acts of compassion, Charlie's heart is touched and as he prepares to speak -- the credits roll.....leaving us to wonder exactly WHAT he is planning to express.
You know a short film is a good one when you really wish it would have been made into a full length feature film....which was exactly the case for me with this one. Shawn is able to communicate a lexicon of emotions without speaking a word (quite impressive). A GREAT mix of drama, sprinkled with comedy (the Mom and Dad are a hoot! -- Mom about X-mas Eve Mass, "Every time I tooted, an angel got her wings"!!! LOL), and a little gay romance to ice the cake.
