At a runtime of no more than 10 minutes and without any dialog, Eva Demmler creates a complete and charming microcosm in "Just a Smile". How could we not care about hard-working Giuseppe (Mike Zaka Sommerfeldt) and his growing affection for the nameless beauty (Stefanie Poljakoff) passing by his restaurant every morning? Like the movie screen, his kitchen window is a gateway to a better, more romantic world. If only it wasn't for the surprise ending the story has in store for him. "Just a Smile" is utterly unpretentious, yet highly engaging. The old-school on-screen jam band ("Shenaniganz") and a small, but oddly universal group of protesters (their sole banner simply reads "Why us?") add a refreshing touch of the absurd.
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