As anyone who has ever dropped into an impromptu musical session in a bar can tell you, sometimes the most memorable renditions of a song can come from the most unlikely of people.
That's the basic premise of Sam A Davis' Netflix acquired Best Live Action Short Oscar nominee, 'The Sinners'.
Based on a short story from the 19th Century Russian writer Ivan Turgenev, Davis' beautifully filmed tale transposes the story to a sad looking, isolated blue collar bar in the dead of winter.
As the regulars prop up the counter, one patron, Will Harrington's construction worker badgers the others for money to buy drink.
Irritated by his behaviour, Mike Yung's bartender cuts a deal with him and Chris Smither's frail customer.
Whoever sings the best will win a $100 note he has stashed away in a cluster of dollar bills decorating the bar.
And so after a few feeble starts, a game of musical one upmanship emerges with the ailing man impressively belting out 'The House of the Rising Sun'.
Over the course of the 18 minutes, we are treated to the bartender's version of 'Unchained Melody' and Harrington raucously performs 'It Hurts Me Too' on an old piano.
Even Judah Kelly's shyest customer is inspired - although he goes to the bar toilet to sing, revealing a sweet voice.
Finally, another customer, played by Matt Corcoran, steps forward revealing a really stunning singing voice.
'The Singers' is a celebration of the ability of music to lift the soul in even the bleakest of settings.
But it is also a sad meditation about unfulfilled talent.
Gorgeously shot on 35mm by Davis and beautifully lit in a warm, intimate glow, it's easy to see why it has charmed audiences at film festivals, picking up awards in Indiana and California.
With an unknown cast drawn from viral videos and street casting, there's a nice underdog quality to it that feels totally in keeping with the story.
Each member of the cast from Yung to Harrington, Kelly to Smither, Corcoran and the other customers played by Michael Keyes, Leroy Griffith, David Jenner, Muffin, Daniel Hutchinson, Brian Coover, Graham Mackie, Jim Donnelly, Tio Rigo, Robert Broski, Steve Conning, Mr George, Rocket and Roy Farewell plays their part in creating a special atmosphere.
'The Singers' is a touching short film that could well appeal to Academy voters.
It would be a very worthy winner on Oscar night.
('The Singers' received its world premiere at the South by Southwest Film and TV Festival in Austin, Texas on March 8, 2025 and was made available on Netflix on February 13, 2026) SINGERS
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