Glory to Arstotzka! The hit game makes a comeback with a live-action short of the same title, featuring the famous immigration inspector played by Igor Savochkin, and his emotionally taxing job. The short was originally developed by Russian filmmakers, Liliya Tkach and Nikita Ordynskiy of Kinodom Productions, and was then authorized by the game's creator, Lucas Pope, as an "official adaptation". I have nothing but praises to say about this film so I'm listing all the reasons why I'm in love with this 10-minute wonder.
(Note: The film is a stand-alone piece, and doesn't require you to play the game)
Foxy Rating: 10/10 Arstotzkan Salutes
Perfect For: People who have played the game, or those who like warfare/dystopian themes.
Where to watch: Youtube, Steam
Age rating: Young Adults & Up (due to violent imagery and portrayal of war)
It's a loving tribute to the game
From the familiar stamp props down to the checking of documents and the people to whom the documents belong to, the film gives several nods to the game. Eagle-eyed fans might be able to spot the following easter eggs to name a few:
Jorji's forged access permit has the same errors like the one in the game.
The film is set in Nov. 23, 1982: the same date as Day 1 in the game.
The Robinskys are probably a reference to the Antegrian Husband & Wife (though in the game they don't en up attacking the border).
I especially love the way the film had a short montage of the inspector checking the documents, I really think it was a very creative way of interpreting that specific aspect of the game. The short film also borrows the iconic metronome music that fans will instantly recognize.
The imagery will give you historical war flashbacks
One of the things I like about Papers Please (The Game) is its atmosphere: reminiscent of historical movies and biopics that tackle wartime in the 1940's. Though Arstotzka may be a fictional country, it shows parallels to real-life events. The short carried through the game's themes, accentuating the setting with beautiful cinematography.
Papers Please (The Short Film) was limited to two settings just as it was in the game: inside and outside the border checkpoint, yet it was able to portray a fully-fleshed out story universe in just 10 minutes.
Perfectly highlights emotion
In the game, you play as the Inspector and part of your "routine" is to make sure that you also balance your home life together with your job as the inspector. The film incorporated this brilliantly, with scenes thick with emotional subtext. Even without the subtitles, you can feel how much the inspector loves his family: he didn't need to say it.
Following scenes such as Elisa Katsenja's appearance add flavor to an already well-mixed stew of feels. The inspector's encounter with her was directly lifted from the game, where her lover Sergiu had asked the inspector to let her through the border even if she didn't have the necessary requirements. In the short film, she is the one to give the locket to Sergiu through the inspector, instead of the other way around.
Papers Please (The Short Film) deserves its "overwhelmingly positive" rating. I regret not watching it sooner when it first popped up on my YouTube feed. If you haven't played the game, it's on Steam or you can also watch Jacksepticeye's video of him playing it.
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