Dating has always been a challenge, but with the advent of technology, social media, and dating apps, hopeful singles have had to find new ways to connect and get to know one another. There are clear upsides to dating online. We can connect with thousands of people from across the globe, whom we wouldn't otherwise connect with. However, the purpose of online dating is to interact and connect with someone offline eventually. Without that physical connection, you can feel as though you're talking to a ghost.
In his drama IRL, Ricardo Perez-Selsky follows Ian (Chase Hinton), a 30-year-old aspiring painter living in Los Angeles. Though he does graphic design on the side, Ian feels like he's running out of time, both in his professional and personal life. Desperate to find a connection, Ian spends his time crafting and redrafting his statement on a dating app and wining and dining the women who respond to his long eloquent messages. Despite his efforts, finding the "one" is proving to be much more challenging than Ian ever could have expected. When he seems to lose all hope, he matches Sofia (Johanna Sol), with whom he instantly connects.
Though her profile lists her location as LA, Sofia explains that she's 1,000 miles away caring for her. Though hesitant at first, she and Ian strike up and text and phone relationship. Though they seem desperately in sync, the longer the pair goes without actually meeting one another, Ian becomes increasingly frustrated and suspicious that Sofia isn't exactly who he thought she was.
Though a bit slow-moving, Perez-Selsky's film accurately portrays the hope and disappointment that most online daters have experienced before. He captures that need to stand out and feel special while still staying true to yourself. Unfortunately, as things begin to evolve with Ian professionally, he and Sofia start to drift apart slowly.
Even with technology, long-distance relationships can surely take a toll on anyone. When the increasing complications of life seep in, finally getting to the same place can feel hopeless and nearly impossible.
IRL is not a traditional love story; it's far too honest for that. Instead, it's a story about taking a chance and putting your heart on the line even when the odds seemed stacked against you. More than that, IRL is full of surprises; having seen many romantic dramas, audiences will undoubtedly expect the narrative to move in one particular direction. However, they will soon discover that Perez-Selsky and writer Chase Hinton Lead's message is far more creative than that.
IRL has been released on Pay-per-view and streaming VOD platforms.