There’s a sequence about a third of the way into the Oscar-nominated Live Action Short film A Lien where Sophia Gomez, played by Victoria Ratermanis, is in a USCIS waiting room wondering if what she is seeing could really be happening. Are ICE agents there arresting green card applicants who were called to these offices? Her husband, Oscar (William Martinez) happens to be in one of those offices with their daughter. She tries not to panic but feels her world crumbling. It’s a magnificent bit of acting, balancing forced restraint with breathless anxiety.
Directed by siblings Sam and David Cutler-Kreutz, A Lien examines the xenophobic U.S. immigration process by following this married couple, doing their best to follow the rules, only to find a potentially calamitous surprise waiting for them. The harrowing, frenzied-paced 14-minute film manages to pack a lot into its short pulse-pounding narrative. DP Andrea Gavazzi relies heavily on cramped close-up framing. Take a look at Joey Moser’s interview with the directors here.
Very few pundits were predicting A Lien would make the final list of Academy Award Live Action Short nominees. Now, it may actually have a shot at winning. The subject matter is, sadly, timely and there’s no denying the power of the storytelling and its impressive execution. As well as the terrific leads.
Ratermanis delivers a potent punch of a performance as a woman caught in a spirally abyss.
Born in Baltimore, she received her BFA in acting from Pace University and attended Playhouse West Brooklyn. The thesp has appeared onstage in a number of productions, in NYC and LA, where she currently lives.
In the last decade-plus, Ratermanis has been involved in close to two dozen shorts as actor as well as writer and director. She’s a lifetime member of the Actor’s Studio. Her short film, DISC, which she co-produced, co-wrote and co-stars in, opposite Jim Cummings, is currently in post-production.
The Contending had the pleasure of speaking with Ratermanis about the film, the Oscars, and her career.
