TRANSACTIONS | Omeleto

A wealthy man buys a PlayStation from a young woman -- and offers her another deal.
TRANSACTIONS is used with permission from Ivar Aase. Learn more at linktr.ee/ivarpinhead.
Vegard goes to the apartment of a woman named Lotte, who has been corresponding with him online about buying her PlayStation console. It seems to be a normal business transaction, and they chit-chat lightly on topics ranging from her high heating bills to saving money. They seem not to have much in common -- Lotte is a young student struggling to make ends meet, and Vegard is an older and wealthier man.
But as the encounter continues, Vegard reveals he knows Lotte from a different context. He wants to make her a deal, one that will promise her freedom and money. But the question of power remains up in the air.
Directed by Ivar Aase and written by Erik Ivar Saether, this dark, intriguing short drama confines its two characters to one location in real-time, taking advantage of the intensity of the compressed format to set up a cat-and-mouse game of power, control and seduction between two players whose everyday surfaces belie secrets and hidden compulsions.
The film begins ordinarily enough, as a man visits a younger woman in an apartment, looking to buy her gaming console. They make small talk, but the man is quick to notice certain details around her home, lending a shiftiness to an otherwise quotidian situation. Coupled with the shadowy, almost claustrophobic cinematography, the storytelling builds up a distinct sense that all is not what it seems.
The narrative's quiet unpredictability builds up suspense as Vegard probes Lotte for her attitudes towards her life, particularly around finances, which she is surprised and then made uneasy by, particularly as Vegard gets nosier and intrudes upon her personal space. Vegard, as played by actor Preben Hodneland with a poised but almost uncanny sense of control and containment, has another agenda for his visit, one that he reveals to Lotte's shock. It's a proposition, one that would elevate her financially and change her life for the time being. But it also unmasks Lotte, which also functions as a loss of control over the situation. Actor Anna Ladegaard excels in portraying Lotte's different layers, from the struggling, everyday student to a cannier, slyly powerful operator, proving that the young woman is more than a match for the wealthier older man in many ways, despite his wealth and status.
Compelling and engaging with excellent writing and directing, the last part of TRANSACTIONS is essentially a pas-de-deux between Lotte and Vegard, who square off as they make a proverbial deal. But underneath the terms and conditions, there's another game being played, as both jockey for a sense of dominance of the situation. This is no mere transaction of give and take, but a dance of power and control, and the question of who wins this game is left tantalizingly up in the air at the film's end, to provocative effect.

[@surrealsista]

I enjoyed how it totally went in an unexpected direction. Even the nonverbal communication told a story of mystery, danger and foreshadowing. Bravo!

[@julianf.wheeler3665]

“…and that’s how your parents met.” :-)

[@brianbutton6346]

Wonderful acting!! I was absorbed completely.

[@eugenetswong]

Yeah, they seem so skilled.

[@CAMBY608]

wow, what a palpable sense of danger..i think they both got off on that interaction…or rather “transaction”!🤣🙌💙

[@clivesmith9377]

She took the risk but it could have gone the other way. Never trust your stalker.

[@leadlacedanarchy9341]

And that's why you don't do Onlyfans or other Modern Whoring.

[@MisterG2323]

I'd have to guess that she was the one doing the stalking.

[@jamespaul2587]

It could still go horribly wrong after she is set up in the new apartment where he has complete control.

[@redpanda9141]

76 square meters is really small by the way

[@jamespaul2587]

@@redpanda9141 in many areas that's a generous size, especially for a single person.

[@aroundandround]

Lotte lives in a high rise where anyone can just walk up to her door without notice?

[@CommonSenseRevolution]

Another amazing gem of a short from Omeleto!

[@jasonevans7260]

I believe this is called a "Fin Dom" and this was incredibly well done.

[@TheMillionairesWorld]

I want to see part 2 now...

[@10Sparrow]

Me too

[@natureboytom]

Holy Dooley, ‘I’ was even holding my breath. 🤭

[@Tactical_Arts]

A different take on "50 Shades of Grey", perhaps? 🤔

[@romaninini]

Incredible. The uncomfortable tension was palpable and love the direction it took. Great film,

[@therealJamieJoy]

BRAVO! The dynamic shift was incredible. Love this!

[@kevinmkraft]

Interesting. I came away from this film with mixed feelings. But I was captivated. Great all around! Anna Ladegaard is positively lovely!

[@gamelover2222]

An OF girl's dream come true.

[@harshkum]

I am confused. Who's dominating whom here?

[@georgemiller151]

Two appalling people.

[@alwayspooh1588]

Why?

[@Hartley_Hare]

Two damaged people whose damage causes them to behave in appalling ways.

[@JustFluffyQuiltingYarnCrafts]

Interesting story, Erik. Very nice execution, Anna and Preben. ♥️♥️♥️

[@ParvaizRaja]

Where has the "Then they got married and lived happily ever after." gone???

[@loreagooden2113]

That's out of date

[@ParvaizRaja]

@@loreagooden2113 alas!

[@Answersonapostcard]

Very few people live happily ever after

[@FitLadyJoy]

Crazy that everyone relates to this. 😂

[@MisterG2323]

Wellllllllll, isn't she the happy little camper? She worked that out beautifully1

[@amandagervais-ln9xq]

3042😩🥲😆🤣

[@magnetdesignandadver]

Very good acting. Great film overall. Very dangerous game she's playing.

[@MadeInSeventyFour]

I want a full movie!

[@bmetoxen]

Thought they were both excellent! Great job! 👏🏼

[@karolinaszczudlo9871]

That's I think, the point - both are "getting kinks" from this pretty standard this day ( ppl who thinks it's not are clearly delusional - even most marriages works that ways) relationship - he is dominating her by putting schedule she has to fill in in order to maintain luxuries - she's dominating him by him simply needing her services - so it's both ways - hence the title transactions - she needs him and he needs her - they both getting kick out of it, otherwise they wouldn't, it's always a choice...

[@stevegeoff]

Wow. There’s a trailer for a full length movie right there.

[@intense_network]

Yeah, we all expect a full movie or a series...

[@eugenetswong]

As I said to somebody else... ...no. Please, no! Sometimes things are best left to the imagination. That being said, I don't fault you and the others. I don't love the immorality involved, but I do love how everything worked together. I especially like how they did not seem weak or toxic. I like his creepiness for story telling purposes, but I love how he doesn't seem to want to harm her, and how he is gently persistent.

[@stevegeoff]

@@eugenetswong I see it developing to be like a Jaguar and Anaconda hunting each other (2 mutual predators). It could make a fantastic story.

[@eugenetswong]

@@stevegeoff So, she would try to fleece him for his money?

[@stevegeoff]

@@eugenetswong Transactions. She hasn’t fleeced him. They were negotiating. Nevermind. We don’t have to agree.

[@Newcenturion100]

Probably based on a true story.

[@itsureishotout-itshotterin3985]

More!

[@loreagooden2113]

Loved it

[@10Sparrow]

Would love to see part 2

[@jameswilliams4775]

Multi-episode series please!

[@johnbergman2746]

More Please. Bravo

[@briteeyes2133]

SUPERB! ABSOLUTELY SUPERB!

[@paulgeorge7699]

Good Short. Crap Subject matter.

[@will7its]

The oldest profession.......

[@randyadamsjr]

Wow that was deep . What I mean by saying deep I mean it was serious with a unique twist

[@flamewings2432]

☠

[@randyadamsjr]

@@flamewings2432 what language were they speaking

[@surrealsista]

At first I thought German, but since I know German I quickly realized it wasn’t German but then I thought Dutch, but the words were too much like English to be Dutch. Then I saw that O with a slash through it and knew it’s either Swedish or Norwegian.

[@randyadamsjr]

@@surrealsista was it similar like the Netherlands or like a Nordic accent or language

[@eugenetswong]

@@surrealsista I thought Swedish also, but at first. Unfortunately, i have serious expertise.

[@charlottebloch]

Kæmpe god !!!

[@shirley_valente]

Great short! I just wonder what will happen when she decides to end the deal considering how stalkerish his whole approach was. 🤔

[@kiraz7471]

Am I the only one of n the world who can afford my dignity?

[@tobe-you-tube6612]

And this is how they sold the world

[@mariongoriak4774]

Giving up the goods to get the goods only when you look at them really closely they're not that good.

[@eugenetswong]

??? Who sold the world?

[@tobe-you-tube6612]

@@eugenetswong You don't get it. She wanted to sell something but how did it ended. Does it seen seem logical to you? I mean mind it. There's an idiom saying something like "the North remember".

[@mariaangelesgarcia3412]

It is a big contradiction. He wants to be dominated, but he acts impossing his will. Some kinde of "Dominate me NOW". For me is moreless a joke.

[@DerOpa.]

Nice Trailer.

[@livinlikeiris]

Series please!

[@eugenetswong]

No. Please, no! Sometimes things are best left to the imagination. That being said, I don't fault you and the others. I don't love the immorality involved, but I do love how everything worked together. I especially like how they did not seem weak or toxic. I like his creepiness for story telling purposes, but I love how he doesn't seem to want to harm her, and how he is gently persistent.

[@wundermine5183]

She thinks she won SMH...a dangereous game is just starting. This was deep .👏👏👏

[@Miamiflow885]

Her character just described 95% of women today