When we look back on our lives, it’s the friends we’ve made and the time spent together that we most fondly recall. Director Kevin Bible and writer Mike Hayes’ short film, Bunco Babes, is the story of one such group of friends.
It’s Bunco Night! For the uninitiated, it’s a card game perfect for any large group of friends. Cards are dealt, leading to screams of victory and groans of defeat, and then the cards and players are shuffled around for the next round. As the evening progresses, the ladies arrive one by one with various dishes for the potluck, including sausage bread and meatloaf. Balls are busted. Photos of children and grandchildren are passed around. The latest gossip is spilled. Soon, the festivities come to a grinding halt when the tragic news of one of the players comes in.

“The latest gossip is spilled. Soon, the festivities come to a grinding halt…”
Bunco Babes is a touching short that reminds us of the importance of friends as we grow older. It’s not just the support and encouragement we receive, but sometimes the petty fights and one-up-manship that come with the package as well. What Bible and Hayes do so well is capture the spirit and feelings of friendship and getting together. They expertly navigate a large cast and the numerous conversations to show that though we’re one group, the conversations vary in subject matter and seriousness.
Whatever the reason, it’s that moment everyone looks forward to after a long grind of a week. Bunco Babes plays out a bit like a Hallmark soap opera, and in the end, we can all recognize the importance of our friends at times of loss and tragedy.