Peter’s Price, written and directed by Mitchell Cohen, tells an intriguing story with style and excellent production values. It’s about two childhood friends who meet again under very unusual circumstances. Money and morality -- or the lack thereof -- are the keys to unlocking the tantalizing relationship puzzle presented in this splendid short film.

Peter, now a well-dressed bank manager, is returning to his car in a parking lot after working late when Jake, a disheveled street thug, attempts to rob him. The two men don’t recognize each other right away, but when they do, their conversation is priceless -- and from this point on, the movie is filled with lots of surprises. The thug chastises the bank manager about changing his wild behavior of the past; the banker defends himself while trying to make his friend see the error of his ways. But everything is not as it seems here, and that’s the beauty of this little neo-noir dramedy about a person’s past catching up with him. 

Christopher Mur (Peter) and James Aidan McCaffrey (Jake) deliver first-rate performances as the former buddies. While making us wonder how the characters they play could turn out to be so different, they also evoke our suspicion about whether this is really true.  However, it’s not only the fine acting in Peter’s Price that impressed me. Cinematography, editing and background music add to the film’s high quality. Filmmaker Cohen shows considerable promise. He certainly knows how to rouse our curiosity and move a story along with just the right pace. I hope to see more from this talented artist.

Although it’s not easy to find and see short films like Peter’s Price, Cohen’s movie is being shown at various film festivals this year. It’s an official selection of numerous such events, including the Los Angeles International Shorts Festival, the San Francisco Independent Festival and the Newport Beach International Festival. (Capsule review)

(Released by Groupthink Entertainment; not rated by MPAA. For more information about Peter’s Price, e-mail GroupthinkEnt@aol.com.)