On the day they move apartments, a couple struggles to get everything in order before the landlord arrives for a final inspection.

Director: Max Bessmertny
Writer: Jorge Cordeiro dos Santos and Max Bessmertny
Category: Short Film

Status: Undistributed / Available for Sales

Cast: Mi Lee, Jorge Vale, Ari Calangi, Leong Choi U, Francis V. Gozum, Myra A. Go, Buddy Chan, Chu Weng Mui, Sou Man Kit, Chon Hin Wai, Murad Amjad B. Assaf, Jaqueline Gislene Vizeu, Sam Mei Kun, Chan Kan Loi, Iao Ka Wai, Lou Pui Leong, Stefan Nunes, Max Bessmertny

Festivals: Macau Panorama Films 2020 (Home Premiere); Macau International Short Film Festival 2020

Awards: Best Local Entry (Macau Int’l Short FF 2020)

Statement:

The transfer of sovereignty from the Portuguese government to
Chinese authorities occurred 20 years ago on December 1999, in an event commonly known as “The Handover”. But on a smaller scale "Handovers" happen quite frequently. Every day, somewhere in the world, someone packs their things and moves them to a different house. The experience can be stressful. Going through old stuff, settling the remaining housing bills, carrying heavy pieces of furniture, and of course, the added pressure to release the house in good condition and on time - under the penalty of not getting the refund from the security deposit! This is a reality quite common here in Macau, since a large chunk of the population lives in rented apartments and is a major subject in today's society. “The Handover” is a comedy inspired by this experience, represented by a modern couple - very in love - in their thirties; Miguel, a Portuguese musician/freelancer, and Sammi, a Chinese freelance designer who dreams of having her own brand of shoes. Moving day will give the pair a lot to do, and is the perfect setup for a row of adventures that involve a vanished dog and a group of workers who carry a heavy couch down a flight of stairs. The odyssey also includes a series of other curious characters,
such as Miguel's buddy Alfredo and a bright Filipino named Kuya, who leads a group of handymen hired for the occasion. It's a one day task turned into a journey of absurd proportions.