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Currently Playing: A POOP STORY | Omeleto

A man struggles. Ellie and Jay are a long-term couple who have been living together. They've been content and comfortable in their home, and haven't had any major problems. But when Ellie's dad needs a place to live, he takes up the sofa outside their bathroom to sleep and lives with the couple for some time. Suddenly, Jay struggles with some of his basic human functions, feeling self-conscious and inhibited and bringing up dormant intimacy issues to the fore. Directed and written by Auri Jackson (who also plays Ellie), this witty, well-observed relationship comedy is an earthy, wry look at intimacy, relationships and the vagaries of the physical body that we often hide or take for granted. But when Jay becomes "poop-shy" in his own home, he becomes acutely aware of the connection between his cramped close quarters and the growing distance between himself and his partner Ellie. He must navigate a tricky new terrain of honesty and communication, all while dealing with his own rising mortification. It's fitting that a story about intimacy is told with an equally intimate visual style, one that oscillates between feeling lived-in and feeling cluttered and claustrophobic. When we first meet Ellie and Jay, the vibe is mellow and comfortable, but as Jay skirts past Ellie's dad sleeping just outside the room, the problem is quickly established: Jay just can't go number two when anyone is around. He can't even wear pajamas around the house, much less get intimate with Ellie. Even though the couple shares a clear sense of comfort and affection, the dad's ongoing presence for a month starts to take a toll. Jay's efforts to find relief escalate, relayed in a brisk, funny sequence. The film could easily play it for farce, but the tone remains even-keeled, grounding its humor in the discomforts and embarrassments of ordinary people in awkward situations. As played by actor Awit Yohannes, Jay's discomfort is gently comical but very real, and it has a genuine effect on his emotional life. His resentment grows, adding tension in his relationship. He and Ellie must hash it out, which unearths other grievances and complaints that have lurked under the surface for a while. Jay doesn't see what the relationship is between their sex life and his bowel movements, but making the connection between the two forms the crux of A POOP STORY. Ultimately, it's about being open and vulnerable, both physically and emotionally. In offloading his true feelings with Ellie, he can finally relieve himself physically. It's an unconventional way to reach a new stage of closeness with Ellie, but in this charmingly unconventional rom-com, it leads to a more enduring happiness and contentment and an unusual but hard-won "happily ever after." A POOP STORY. Courtesy of Auri Jackson at https://aurijackson.com.