Cicada

What stands out first about Cicada is the confidence with which Matthew Fifer establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Cicada asks Matthew Fifer and Sheldon D. Brown to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Cicada is established with useful clarity: A New York love story that toes the line between narrative and doc with two actors reliving parts of their own experiences. That direct approach lets Cicada use its 1h 36m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence.

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The acting in Cicada is anchored by Matthew Fifer, who treats even functional scenes as opportunities to reveal character. Sheldon D. Brown answers that approach with a different energy, giving Cicada welcome friction whenever the pace begins to settle. Around them, Sandra Bauleo helps Cicada feel like an ensemble piece rather than a vehicle with decorative support. Under Matthew Fifer, the performances in Cicada share a tone even when the writing gives them unequal depth.

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Cicada gains much of its identity from conversation allowed to breathe, a choice that makes the world readable as well as attractive. The contribution of rubbertape allows Cicada to combine conversation allowed to breathe with a consistent visual language. Within its United States setting, Cicada makes particularly good use of intimate framing when the story needs to change scale. Sound and editing preserve the personality of Cicada by supporting detail instead of announcing every intended response.

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The directorial personality of Cicada comes from Matthew Fifer remaining dependable even when the material becomes familiar when the premise invites excess. Within Cicada, Matthew Fifer repeatedly favours readable choices over attention seeking flourishes. That discipline explains why familiar choices gain value from committed execution in Cicada rather than appearing only in isolated scenes. Where Cicada becomes less convincing, some developments arrive well before they surprise, and the loss of control is noticeable without becoming fatal.

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Cicada uses its romance framework to consider vulnerability, timing and the risk involved in honest connection. For the character played by Matthew Fifer, that idea gives Cicada stakes beyond the next immediate obstacle. The recurring pressure of the central character prevents the theme in Cicada from feeling like decoration added after the story. Matthew Fifer makes Cicada more thoughtful whenever the implications remain inside action and reaction.

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The narrative of Cicada works from a simple but productive collision between New York and the central character. Through Matthew Fifer, Cicada keeps that premise rooted in a reaction the audience can understand. Matthew Fifer introduces an important relationship at a useful point, giving Cicada a reason to change pace without abandoning its emotional line. The handling of a difficult choice is not equally fresh, yet Cicada usually earns attention through clarity rather than surprise alone.

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Overall, Cicada amounts to a satisfying recommendation with minor reservations and should suit romance viewers looking for chemistry supported by emotional detail. The combination of Matthew Fifer, Matthew Fifer and conversation allowed to breathe gives Cicada a specific identity. Although some developments arrive well before they surprise in Cicada, the film recovers through craft and committed performance. For the audience it understands, Cicada offers enough character to remain worthwhile after the immediate plot has faded.