Alone But Not Afraid
Short film Arlo Alone shines light on millennial love
An alluring combination of sci-fi inspired themes that bring to mind the likes of Netflix hit Black Mirror and a gripping tale about the desperate search for human connection, Nicole Dorsey’s short film follows the life of Arlo, a young woman who has not seen the light of day for 138 days.
In the world of the film, human touch is treated as a commodity as precious as gold. For Arlo (Grace Glowicki) in particular, it seems as if the odds of finding love are stacked against her. Trapped indoors with only a Siri-like voice as a companion, a sister who has just been given permission from the government to have a child, and an overbearing mother, Arlo is constantly reminded of her isolation. Ever relevant to the difficulties of finding genuine human connection via modern dating apps like Tinder, Grindr, and a number of others designed to help you “find the one,” Arlo Alone hits the nail of modern love squarely on the head.
Much like the warmth of a kiss from a significant other who has been away for an extended period of time, Arlo’s reaction to the touch of her emergency contact (whose job title takes on a double meaning) reveals how valuable the touch of another human being truly is. The touch of another human is so addicting in fact, Arlo contemplates hurting herself in the name of getting another fix. While certainly not healthy, Arlo’s desperation to find even the slightest bit of skin on skin contact proves her willingness to fight against the innately human fear of loneliness.
In an age where everything is seemingly just a click away, Arlo Alone highlights how the convenience of modern technology can’t always get you that which you want most: love and affection.
