It was only a matter of time before the Covid lockdown became a major part of a feature. Up until now that scenario has mostly been kept to a series of terrible Zoom based shorts, with few exceptions. 7 Days, from Director Roshan Sethi (in his directorial debut) however, takes on this setup and makes something interesting.
This is predominately because at its heart, 7 Days only uses Lockdown as a device to probe into the personal insecurities and relationships of a couple on a first date. Combining a ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ level awkwardness, a fight for emotional independence (and personal desires), with the weight of Indian arranged marriages means there’s plenty to get their teeth into.
Ravi (Karan Soni – Deadpool, Miracle Workers) and Rita (Geraldine Viswanathan – Blockers, Janet King, Miracle Workers) are both caught in the crosshairs of demanding mothers who want to marry them off. This results in a number of precisely organised dates being orchestrated, with the results being tabulated to the nth degree. The problem is that no one seems to be presenting themselves honestly. While that may apply to dating in general, this is something else, with everyone hiding their true nature to appear ‘traditional’.
There’s quite a lot early on that seems to suggest that 7 Days will go in one particular direction, with certain boxes being ticked. Relatively soon though, this does start to take a different turn and takes on a much different sensibility. This makes a much better proposition than initially expected and allows for more nuance in the relationship. This is no doubt due to the quality of the writing from Sethi and Soni, and the assured directing hand of Sethi, who guides the narrative with skill.
For Ravi and Rita it starts out in familiar territory, with the pair enduring a horrific first date, full of anxiety and faux pas. Just as it seems they may be past the worst of it, news of the lockdown and ‘shelter in place’ hits them. Cue the ‘odd couple’ setup, where Ravi is forced by circumstance to stay over. If this was a TV show in the pre-covid period, its equivalent scene probably would be characters stuck in a lift or similar. So while it’s not a new idea, what’s good is that even as we feel the familiarity, the invention means that it doesn’t grate. From here it becomes much more focused on their dynamic rather than the setup, although there is a tiny thematic contrivance near the end.
What makes this really work is the two actors chemistry and how they develop the interplay between the two. Karan Soni certainly has the neurotic side down, but also nicely plays into the expressive when his repression occasionally lifts. Opposite him, the ever watchable Viswanathan is a delight throughout and the perfect foil. They’ve been on screen together before, in the Daniel Radcliffe starring anthology series Miracle Worker, so that may have helped, but that’s probably only a small part of it.
That chemistry can’t be understated and it gives this a great energy. It also makes these characters likable, and without enough of that spark this could have fallen flat. Their excellence makes this really shine though, and the key thing for anyone that might be put off, is that there is much to enjoy here. If you want to find laughs and a lot of charm amongst your covid commentary, this is for you.
‘7 Days’ is showing as part of the London Film Festival at the Prince Charles Cinema (Thursday 14th October), Curzon Soho Screen 3 (Friday 15th October), and Odeon Luxe West End (Saturday 16th October).
Director Roshan Sethi is also interviewed by this writer, on the ‘Screen to Screen’ radio show on Soho Radio, which airs at 10am (BST) on Thursday 14th October.
