A Workplace Flirtation and Confrontation in “Sparring Partner” | The New Yorker Screening Room

In J. J. Kandel’s short film, written by Neil LaBute and featuring Cecily Strong and KeiLyn Durrel Jones, the lunch-break banter of a flirtatious pair of co-workers gives way to uncomfortable revelations.
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[@mrjjkandel]

Hi Everyone, this is J.J. Kandel the Director of SPARRING PARTNER, starring Cecily Strong and KeiLyn Durrel Jones. I'll be looking out for any questions you may have about the short, and hopefully provide some answers where I can. Thank you for watching and enjoy!

[@samanthagettinglost]

I love the balance of naturalism and awkwardness and flirtation between the characters. How did you achieve this level of naturalism and did you base the tone of the relationship on any other movie relationships?

[@jhsounds]

What inspired the use of the Paolo Conte song that bookends the film?

[@JulesRules1113]

So well written and executed, and often uncomfortably real. I’d love to know: Did you always know how it would end, or did you consider alternate endings?

[@JamilSmith]

Wonderful job with this. The chemistry and tension are both so vivid. Perhaps the best compliment I can pay is… it’s relatable.

[@mrjjkandel]

@@JamilSmithThank you for the kind words, much appreciated. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tony7782003]

Their friendship, flirtation, rising tension and hostility are expertly, beautifully played. Bravi!

[@jhsounds]

For a second I was like "that woman looks just like Cecily Strong", but it turned out to actually be her.

[@anooseholay]

Thank you for casting cecily strong. She is just awesome.

[@dextgjokjhhcddss]

beautiful movie. the scenery and acting are indeed amazing

[@jmiller3415]

I really liked this short film. The actors were excellent, and LaBute is great at addressing melancholy / offbeat / inappropriate situations.

[@lydiasharp6070]

Absolutely YAY… Thanks for sharing…so well done.

[@ibnuothman5280]

Wow beautiful location

[@lachinita2007]

These things never end well.... If you have a relationship and you feel chemistry with a college just avoid nurturing that monster....don't go out to lunch dates, don't go flirting "innocently"... Lives and families get destroyed for a what if...

[@beverleyreid563]

Exactly. People need to use their "smarts".

[@tony7782003]

If only life were so simple. Easy binary choices in complex personal matters.

[@stephenspackman5573]

Is there another way to meet people in this society?

[@Flor-ian]

Shoutout to the ADR doggy at 10:58 Nice short Mr. Kandel!

[@alexny1173]

Bravo e che bel canzone ❤

[@jonahstein2139]

Is the bench quote "We were together. I forgot the rest." ?

[@KleWdSide]

These 2 need to do the horizontal mambo & get it over with.

[@johnnykidblue]

This definitely did not happen to me, and I definitely did not get entangled in an off-and-on 5-yea-plus relationship like this. And I definitely don’t still deeply love that person but had to end the relationship for both of our sakes because it wasn’t meant to be. But, yeah, nice short film.

[@tony7782003]

@johnnykidblue I presume that happened to a friend.

[@jamesheuer5139]

I thought that was Cecily Strong👍👍❤️

[@pranaykarmakar5721]

beaut

[@craighostland4914]

Trying to unpack why she started a song on her cell and placing it on the card. I can understand her walking away. She has her answer. But is she still longing to interfere with his relationship with his wife?

[@stephenspackman5573]

You were never really annoyed with someone you deeply cared about and ended up doing something utterly incomprehensible? 'Cos that's happened to me quite a lot.

[@cmg369]

What happens after? Do they end up together?

[@poopmonkey48]

If this was real life then they'd end up together for about 3 months and then have a messy breakup that results in one or both needing to find different jobs to escape an awkward or hostile environment.

[@beverleyreid563]

I hope not.

[@albertzayha8884]

Two Quadrinities* doing the Flirtation Tango. Brilliantly scripted and performed. * Quadrinity = PIES (Physical Intellectual Emotional Spiritual).

[@TheBella2u]

Excellent but the guys an AH.