Colada review: This short film from Spain captures the heady rush of being silly in love

Ibon Hernando’s short film Colada aka The Wash (In Love) is a simple film that captures the excitement of feeling attracted towards someone and trying to make them notice you.

María is in love with her neighbour Susana and tries to get her attention. Although they are neighbours, they only meet on the landing where they tend to their laundry.

As they hang out their laundry, Maria finds out more about her neighbour. Through the clothes being hung out to dry, Maria learns about Susana and the person she is living with. Although she is disappointed and about to give up, Maria's keen observation makes her realize that there is hope yet to possess the object of her affection.

The film is earnest in the portrayal of its characters and peppered with light moments. It captures the silly things that one does when attracted to someone and how small things become big signs and the heart soars when one’s feelings are reciprocated.

Hernando’s film plays out without dialogues and the director employs the inventive technique of using clothes on a clothesline to enable us to know more about the characters. Since the cycle of washing clothes and drying them is central to the film, it is repeated in creative ways. The colourist makes the colour palette pop as we see the characters in soothing blues and vibrant reds.

The Wash (In Love) was screened online at the Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival.