Filmmakers Eden Ohayon & Alexandra Nedved‘s short film Sugar offers a sweet glimpse into the life of a rookie sugar baby. Those who have a stigma against this type of transactional relationship will be hard-pressed to critique the film’s portrayal of this good-natured and unique bond. Billed as a dark comedy (think Fleabag style), Sugar shows how one woman’s act of desperation turns into the unexpected beginning of a beautiful friendship.

An Unexpected Connection Derails a Young Woman’s “Get Rich Quick” Scheme

Maeve (Molly Ehrenberg-Peters) is a broke Brit living in Brooklyn, who struggles to make ends meet. Having recently separated from her live-in boyfriend, Maeve is desperate to regain a sense of financial security. This leads her to the Upper West Side, where she prepares to “shag an old bloke” on her first outing as a prospective sugar baby. Maeve’s voiceover informs the audience that she will be meeting Frank (Larry Pine), an older gentleman and first-time sugar daddy, for dinner. They get off to a good start, but quickly break the cardinal rule of first date topics by discussing religion. Maeve feigns interest in Frank, keeping her eye on the prize.

After dinner, Frank suggests they take a walk around the park. He wants to continue their conversation, and she desperately wants to lock this down, so she agrees. Their conversation organically becomes personal and intimate while staying completely platonic. It’s at this point that Maeve sees past the dollar signs and begins to understand the man in front of her: a grieving widower who, like her, loves the ballet. The money becomes secondary as Maeve shifts into a happiness mindset. She begins to realize that we all have a basic human need for connection and vulnerability, regardless of wealth, status, and gender.

Engaging Use of First-Person POV

Visually, Sugar uses engaging POV shots to drop the viewer into the film. Filmed almost entirely in the first-person perspective, this intimate technique inserts the audience into the scenes with the characters. Leading the film is Molly Ehrenberg-Peters, who is definitely one to keep on your radar. Her charm and effortless performance are captivating and memorable. She also doubles as one of the screenwriters alongside Ohayon and Nedved.

Takeaway

Sugar explores an alternate side of the sugar baby/sugar daddy dynamic, making for a wonderfully thought-provoking short film.