
Thischeerfullyhumdrumrom-compresentsaveryhomemadesliceoffirst-lockdownlife.ButcanitssquabblingcouplemakeitthroughCovid?Co-writersandfilmmakersArtemisShawandPrashanthKamalakanthanplayKalliaandRam:youngloversvacationingtoNewYorkjustasthepandemicunfolds.They’vealreadydescendedintopettyname-callingwhenthetravelbanprolongstheirtripindefinitely,trappingtheminKallia’suncle’sapartment.<br/> NewStrainsisasmucharelatableaccountofthefirstlockdownasitisasketchofitsparticulareffectsonthispeculiarcouple.Semi-improvisedandshotonaHi8camcorderthatShawandKamalakanthanfoundduringtheirownreallockdown,itsgrainyVHSfootagenailsthefrustrationsofpersonalandcreativehelplessnessinquarantine.Aproductiondefinedbythesameconstraintsitdepicts,itsimilarlymakesthebestofabadsituation.<br/> Allofwhichmakesitauniquelyauthenticpandemicfilm–fullofneat,oddlypoignanttouchesthatcapturethehighsandlowsoflockdownrelationships.FailingtoconnectmeaningfullyoverFaceTimegymsessions,dreamsoffindinglosttrousersinthepark,bathwaterspillingundertheshowercurtainasthesecondpersongetsin.Allthesesharplyobservedmomentsconstructaportraitoftwoliveslivedtooclose,inashrinkingdomesticworld:livestryingandfailingtobecomeone.