‘Denise Calls Up’

This 1995 release is an unconventional burlesque of the modern age. It’s about lives lived through telephones, modems, faxes, computers, conference calls and answering machines. Consider it a call-waiting comedy. Written and directed by first-timer Hal Salwen, “Denise” tries something daring and makes it work. It’s a film that does without conventional two-and three-character scenes: All its people are photographed alone in their various rooms, doing what they do best, working hard and talking on the telephone. That scenario may sound unsurprising, but it’s anything but. Allana Ubach stars as Denise and Caroleen Feeney (pictured) is Barbara (Showtime Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.).