A film about ‘Offline Dating’ has gone viral, and its director is urging others follow suit and ditch Tinder, Happn and OKCupid in favour of real life attraction.

Hackney Gazette: Offline Dating in Broadway MarketOffline Dating in Broadway Market (Image: Archant)

BAFTA nominated director, Samuel Abrahams sent his newly-single friend, actor Tom Greaves, on a mission to find his next date by asking women out face-to-face, without the help of modern technology.

The six-minute short movie, which has had over 250,000 views on YouTube since it was published just over a week ago, follows 29-year old Tom’s attempts to woo women around London Fields and Broadway Market where they used to live together, with varying levels of success.

Rejection came in the form of girls telling him they were already attached, to doors being slammed in his face, and one woman’s boyfriend nearly starting a fight.

But others are charmed by his manner and he is seen arranging a couple of impromptu dates - including one which ends with a kiss.

Hackney Gazette: Samuel Abrahams, director of Offline DatingSamuel Abrahams, director of Offline Dating (Image: Archant)

The idea for the film came after Tom tried to download the dating app Happn, which flags up all the people you have crossed paths with that day who are also subscribed, and found it was “the least romantic thing he had ever seen”.

Sam said: “I can see it’s an amazing tool to have in your back pocket, but people are so much more complicated and interesting than a profile made up of your curated Instagram pics and a couple of funny one liners to sum you up.

“When you see someone in real life you kind of get a vibe from them about who they are, it’s not even just what they are saying but the general aura and wordless communication.”

The film has provoked mixed reactions, and while some are sold on the idea, other female commentators have complained it promotes ‘male entitlement’ on film and street harassment as art.

Sam, 33, has never dated online, and met his girlfriend at a music concert after she caught his eye, and they started chatting.

“We have just bought a house together, I feel it was a serendipitous romantic chance encounter that could so easily not have happened,” he said.

“So I hope that shows, if guys shouldn’t speak to girls then I wouldn’t be with my girlfriend - I think it’s all about how you do it, no way should anyone show anyone disrespect.”

He continued: “I don’t want to get too political, as it’s a film and hopefully the message is clear that I just want the film to inspire and encourage people to reconnect with each other.

“I also really like the paradox of making an online film about offline life and it’s the great way to get the idea out there, and I guess I’m on the only one thinking and feeling this, that’s why it’s resonated so fully.”