Filmed during a real solar eclipse (and on 16mm film no less), Mesopotamia, TX is an incredible achievement. Written and directed by Lucy Gamades, this short film stands as both an enlightening character study and a successful technical achievement. When the climax of a film depends on a real-life event going according to plan, the stakes are dramatically high. Yet any signs of production stress are overshadowed, pun intended, by the beauty of the visuals captured on screen. Mesopotamia, TX recently made its World Premiere at the 2025 Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.

Statistical Occurrence, or Act of God?

Any time there is a solar eclipse event, it brings out the best in humanity. People from all walks of life gather together to marvel at the miracle in the sky. For a few brisk seconds, we all experience a universal natural wonder. The lead-up to this moment is when we meet a man (Nicky Maindiratta) and a woman (Megan Greener), two strangers who find themselves waiting for the eclipse amid a crowd of eccentric Texans. The nameless characters are total strangers, he is from out of town and she is a local. Their shared interest in the upcoming earthly phenomenon is enough to get them talking. They engage in playful banter until they eventually get into deep conversation. Their debate poses the question of the upcoming eclipse being an act of randomness or Godly intervention, giving each other pause. Just then, the sun begins to disappear behind the moon, and the new friends put their differing beliefs aside to engage in the communal celebration of this worldly wonder.

Watch the Mesopotamia, TX trailer here.

The visual aesthetic of Mesopotamia, TX is artfully vibrant. From the bright red title design that matches the protagonist’s cowboy hat to the country song “In the Shadow of the Valley” that opens the film, Mesopotamia, TX is a thoroughly fun and enjoyable watch. Filmmaker Lucy Gamades crafts a smart script that comes to life in Matthew Marino’s beautiful cinematography. The cutaway shots of the environment around the lead actors anchor the film in realism.

Takeaway

As the light dips into darkness, the energy of Mesopotamia, TX is tangibly felt off-screen. It serves as a genuine moment of reflection and appreciation for not just the beauty of the natural world, but the beauty of independent cinema too.