How Do You Know Chris?

Luke Cook,Lynn Gilmartin

How Do You Know Chris? is a story that revolves around a deceivingly simple narrative, yet is able to plunge viewers into a dark labyrinthine world they can all easily relate to.The central character, the inherently flawed chameleon Chris Black, 28, throws a party. He's invited an assortment of guests to celebrate with him at his inner-city Melbourne apartment.The scene is set with an open bar and a bartender serving fancy cocktails and finger food. It's clear no expense has been spared. The only thing missing is their host.Most guests aren't overly familiar with one another, and are initially at great pains to mingle.To break the ice, guests discuss topics of conversation ranging from the intellectual and political, to some sexual in nature, and many that are just mind-numbingly mundane. But almost every interaction results in one question, "how do you know Chris?"The answers vary, with guests discovering that he is different things to different people.Ex-lovers reunite and old friendships rekindle as it becomes obvious that none of those present are there by accident, not even 19 year old student, Emi Mustafi, who Chris has only met earlier that day.When Chris does eventually arrive, nothing is any clearer until he calls everyone together to propose a toast.Having said his piece, Chris' real motive becomes apparent - with dramatic consequences.The film is set just after the turn of the new millennium, in the year 2000, a time before the ubiquitous influence of social media and smartphones. It was a milestone era, fraught with simmering uncertainty and frayed nerves over the Y2K computer 'bug'.The bug would supposedly cause worldwide chaos and a complete breakdown of society via disruptions to water and electricity, food delivery, banking systems and transport. Against this unsettled backdrop, the characters in How Do You Know Chris? also experience a sense of uncertainty.How Do You Know Chris? is a wonderful and thought- provoking film with a constellation of colourful and complex characters, easily relatable for the intended audience. The sense of turbulence that simmers in the film is reflective of global events today - events that include natural disasters and unpredictable viruses - making it more relevant than ever.