(courtesy First Showing)
SNAPSHOT
On Christmas Eve, Cliff (starring Michael Strassner who also co-wrote the script), a newly sober improv comedian, cracks a tooth and lands in the emergency care of Didi (Liz Larsen), an older no-nonsense dentist. What begins as a routine check-up sparks an unpredictable evening of misadventures. Together, Cliff and Didi fight to overcome being shut out by their families, face their biggest fears, and discover their own surprising and tender connection. The Baltimorons is directed by the acclaimed American producer / writer / filmmaker Jay Duplass (of the Duplass Brothers), director on the films The Puffy Chair, Baghead, Cyrus, Jeff Who Lives at Home, and The Do-Deca-Pentathlon previously, plus some episodes of the series Togetherness, Search Party, and Somebody Somewhere most recently. The screenplay is co-written by Jay Duplass and Michael Strassner. Produced by David Bonnett, Drew Langer, and Michael Strassner. This initially premiered at the 2025 SXSW Film Festival earlier this year. (courtesy First Showing)
Falling in love is wonderful – but falling in love at Christmas? A thousand extra kind of magical wonderfulness.
The Baltimorons dives deep into the romantic trappings of the most wonderful time of the year – “Where are we going with this, kid?” “I have no idea… I just really like you.” – and it looks like it possesses that laid-back indie look and feel that suggests life happening in real time.
What’s lovely about the story is how unexpected it all feels which is when life really shines; so much of being alive feels so damn predictable, at least in the work-a-day world, so a story where something wondrously good surprises you is a real joy.
The Baltimorons releases in U.S. on 5 September and premieres in Australia at the 2025 Melbourne International Film Festival.