Are political differences enough to end an otherwise great relationship? That is the conundrum filmmaker Erik Bork spotlights in his red-blue romantic comedy, The Elephant in the Room. Both lighthearted in nature and contemporary in its themes, Bork uses humor to look at very real and complex issues facing couples today. As if dating in Los Angeles isn’t hard enough, adding political tension makes for a complicated connection in these divided times.

Finding Mr. Almost Right

The film takes place in Los Angeles during December 2020, a time when COVID-19 is still a threat and dating remains a somewhat risky endeavour. Leah (Alyssa Limperis) is a proud progressive woman who believes she has finally found the perfect guy. After a quick flirty exchange on Christmas Day with Vincent (Sean Kleier), Leah is smitten. He’s handsome, charming, and witty. On paper, he’s perfect; however, things take a dramatic, if not horrifying, turn when she discovers he was a Trump voter.

Still, not ready to give up hope, Leah launches a mission to fix this “problem.” She feels cautiously optimistic that she will be able to shift his perspective and get him to align with her values so they can work past these fundamental differences. However, after Vincent shares that he is planning to attend the Washington D.C. protest on January 6th with his right-wing grandmother, Leah believes that all hope is lost. Her vision of this dream man is turning into a nightmare, but it may not be too late to change his mind once and for all.

Divided We Stand?

Though not technically a “horror film,” The Elephant in the Room does portray one woman’s worst-case scenario. Written & directed by Erik Bork, the film is a funny and smart exploration of political polarization that genuinely caters to a non-partisan audience. Leah and Vincent’s political tiffs bring up interesting points, ones that both sides of the aisle should be able to acknowledge as valid. It is appropriate to draw the line at the January 6th riots, which the film allows audiences to do without much convincing.

Director Statement

“My idea for the film originally was that political differences in the age of Trump could be a great ‘complication’ for a potential romantic comedy. As I began raising money to make the film, and meeting people from organizations concerned with trying to do something about political polarization, I started to feel heartened that they thought this film is the kind of thing we need more of today – where people from opposite sides talk to each other and have an incentive to find common ground.

Although that conflict is explored mostly comedically in the film, I do recognize it as a serious issue – the huge divides between the “two sides” in our culture. And while I mainly hope the film entertains and engages audiences as a story, I also like thinking that it will spark conversations about this ever-present issue in people’s lives today, as it has done during all its screenings thus far.”

Takeaway

Lead actor Alyssa Limperis steals the spotlight with her authenticity and bubbly demeanour. Her chemistry with co-star Sean Kleier and supporting actor Dominic Burgess is strong, and gives The Elephant in the Room a real blockbuster feel. No matter what side you lean politically, there is much to admire in this charming indie feature.