Manifestation: A short film review

"Manifestation," a short film written and directed by Palmira Muniz ("How Natural Hair in Media Helped Me Embrace My Curls"), is sure to leave you second guessing what you are willing to give up to have what you want. "Manifestation," embraces many of my favorite things: black things, femme things, queer things, love things, and magic things. All things I love so dearly.

The new year brings a strong urge to manifest our deepest desires; money, the ideal body type, new houses or cars, but most of all: Love. Folks live and breathe the possibilities of being in love. But what happens when the universe decides on our behalf? Do we give up and let go of what once felt so good, or do we continue to fight for what we had?

We have seen the overt lover trope. The love that nails herself to the proverbial cross, a script that hand-holds the audience to the sadness-- but this is not that. This is a unique glimpse into grief and loneliness; how the space is always hollow, even when filled with moments like breathing life into ourselves in the morning. This film captures how grief gets to exist with impunity, stuck to our tongues and wafting through our homes like love unrequited; and the only ones who learn the lessons of grief are those who spend their days begging the universe or God or some kind of sky for a fucking break from the prison of pain.

Cici (Christina Davis) is at an impasse.; one that weighs heavily on her spiritually and emotionally. What feels like just a day in the life of our beautiful black protagonist, is actually a day where Cici must choose love or choose herself. And every choice that she makes from the moment she does her morning mantras, until the time she closes her eyes, leads Cici closer to the very thing she desires most.

If you begin the Google search, "how to manifest--" the first full result that will appear is, "how to manifest someone." Love, at its most basic understanding, is something we all want to feel at least once in our lives. To be more specific, the desire that everyone most has is connection. And maybe we worry that we'll leave earth without ever knowing if the one we love, no matter where they are, will ever take time out of their day to just love us back.

One particular scene in "Manifestation" draws in on the loneliness of a love lost. Cici replays old voicemails and lands on one from her lost love. It is a simple memory. Being in a relationship, there are many calls just like this one. And it is this memory that drives Cici. It is a closeness in this voicemail that only exists within a relationship where you love each other and know each other. It is vulnerable and heartbreaking. Cici is seen by her lover, and this connection is so desperately missed. It gives light to the longing that Cici feels for her lover.

As this film develops, we are left wondering if Cici's choices are those we would make? I found myself asking, "have I ever loved someone that much?" and quickly after, "have I ever felt hurt this much?" After all, love is the ultimate prize, right?

The eeriness of the film is heightened by the wonderful score curated by Mackenzie Iames (DJ Lotis). The signature piano keys from the teaser (linked here) are already creating spooky waves on TikTok as they carry you into the film. But as haunting as the score is, Muniz and Iames plan to give the viewers more as there is word that there will be a full playlist with music from the film, as well as additional tracks from DJ Lotis.

Muva Beyoncé told us about filming black girls in blue light. Well, Muniz and the film's Director of Photography, Kosiba Oshodi-Glover, both do an incredible job of bringing intimate moments to the screen with their beautiful lighting choices. They show us the vulnerable and naive Cici, and quickly give us sinister and self-assured CiCi. A juxtaposition that breathes deeply even with the short time we spend with our protagonist.

As this year has begun, we have had the pleasure of seeing creatives like Quinta Brunson, Niecy Nash, and Janelle Monáe be recognized and awarded for their hard work in film and television. It is imperative that our communities continue to support black women creatives like Palmira Muniz, Kosiba Oshodi-Glover (Merry Litmas: An AZ Christmas Movie), and Christina Davis in the same ways as the aforementioned. Their work helps rebuild the foundation of black art as our favorites move up the ladder of success. We must see the work of black women in this industry as a tapestry that, without ongoing additions to its threading, we could lose the structure entirely. See this work as Muniz adding thread to that tapestry and honor the moment that is "Manifestation."

This film is currently being considered for numerous film festivals. Please continue to support this film by sharing this post with your social network and by donating to the film via Paypal or Venmo.

View more about Manifestation here

Ink, 2023