Contact is a 1992 short film (30 minutes) directed by Jonathan Darby.
It is set in the Iraqi desert during the first Gulf War. Cox (Brad Pitt) is a young American soldier who somehow has gotten cut off from his unit and is all alone in the desert, although he is in contact by radio. While trying to find his way back through a minefield, he encounters an Iraqi soldier named Mohannan (Elias Koteas). Cox nearly pulls the trigger but can't do it after he sees Mohannan looking at a picture of his family. Soon they find themselves working together after getting warning of a possible poison gas attack.
Made right around the time Brad Pitt was hitting it big with Thelma & Louise. No connection to the novel Contact, the film based on that novel, or the video game Contact.
Tropes:
- Due to the Dead: Ends with Cox and Mohannan burying the dead Iraqi soldier (Mohannan's buddy, maybe?) and parting ways.
- Extremely Short Timespan: About 24 hours somewhere in the Iraqi desert.
- Face Framed in Shadow: The faces of Cox and Mohannan during the tense scene where they hide and wait as an Iraqi patrol pokes around the little cave.
- Fatal Family Photo: Inverted, as the photo actually saves the soldier's life. Cox has Mohannan in his sniper scope and is about to pull the trigger when he sees Mohannan looking at a picture of him and what appears to be his wife/girlfriend at the beach. After he sees that, Cox can't bring himself to shoot.
- Heartbeat Soundtrack: The thumping of Cox's heart on the soundtrack as he draws a bead on Mohannan, but hesitates to shoot.
- Hiding Behind the Language Barrier: Mohannan gives the impression that he speaks no English at all when Cox talks to him. That is, until the end, when Cox asks why Mohannan didn't call for help to his fellow Iraqis, and Mohannan says "I could have shot you. Bastard."
- Kirk's Rock: Cox and Mohannan are climbing over Vazquez Rocks when they have their Mexican standoff. As so often is the case, the odd-looking Vazquez Rocks formation is used to suggest a different, unfamiliar place.
- Mexican Standoff: Happens after Mohannan sees Cox and raises his rifle as well. Finally they lower them when it becomes apparent neither will shoot.
- Minimalist Cast: Only three speaking parts in the film: Mohannan, Cox, and the voice of the officer on Cox's radio.
- Title Drop: Cox receives an order over his radio: "If you contact the enemy, engage."
- The Voice: The man on the radio back at HQ, voiced by veteran character actor J.T. Walsh.
