From Omeleto.
A man remembers a friend.
GOOD VIBES ONLY is used with permission from Christopher Rogers. Learn more at https://instagram.com/christopherogers.
Charlie is an Internet radio DJ of a well-regarded breakfast show on NTS. On the tenth anniversary of the show, Charlie discovers an old record gifted to him by his late friend Huey, who shared the same passion for music.
Charlie dedicates the show to Huey’s memory, selecting music that charts the rise and fall of their friendship. But Charlie works his way through the memories, he is forced to face the difficult truths about his friend — and the reality of his own mental health.
Directed and written by Christopher Rogers, this engaging and heartfelt short drama focuses on the friendship between two men, both of whom find common ground in their love of music. Despite their shared interest and deep affection for one another, they never quite open up to each other about more personal, emotional matters — something that haunts Charlie well after Huey’s passing. As Charlie replays the songs that make up the soundtrack of their time together, the music itself takes on new resonance as Charlie fills out and complicates the narrative of their friendship.
The emotional and thematic terrain of the storytelling is quite serious, dealing with death, regret and mental health matters. But it’s belied by the storytelling’s upbeat sunniness and even keel in tone, thanks to its steady pacing, warm, lived-in cinematography and main character. Friendly, grounded and keen to present a feeling of warmth and relatability with his listeners Charlie is an engaging narrator on air, relaying his history with Huey and taking us and his listeners through their story together. And it’s a warmly enjoyable one, with the two men bonding over music in a way that "musos" will recognize with a smile and making for lighthearted moments of fun and humor.
But as Charlie and Huey’s individual lives and friendship become more complex over time, so do their struggles. They soldier on with their good times, but as Charlie remembers his times with Huey, he realizes that the good times weren’t as good as they seemed. Sometimes Huey probes Charlie; sometimes it’s the other way around. As Charlie and Huey, respectively, actors Angus Castle-Doughty and Nnabiko Ejimofor have an enjoyable rapport, but they can’t quite let the walls fall between them, even as both experience more intense struggles. They fracture eventually as friends, to Charlie’s regret, especially after there’s no more chance to repair their relationship.
Based on the writer-director’s personal experiences, GOOD VIBES ONLY deals with the tough but important subject matter of men’s mental health with great care; after all, suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50 in the U.K. But that seriousness is woven into a story that’s also filled with warmth, affection and even great tenderness between friends. The regret is that these friends, as close as they are, can’t quite share their deepest, most difficult feelings with one another, helping each other feel less alone. Instead, they pretend to be happy, keeping the good times going even if they are falling apart inside. It’s an act that many with depression are familiar with, and perhaps one of the reasons why it persists and digs into the psyche. But it’s also why it’s important to break the shame and stigma and give voice to difficult feelings — and learn to listen to them with equanimity and empathy.
