Quiet film
I appreciated this film a lot. The focus of the story is a quiet, shy
person named Jorge who has a connection with a new waitress at the diner where he works as a dishwasher. Every night, he goes home to a small sad apartment where a man "lives". Note: in my opinion, this man is a hallucination, and Jorge likely has some serious PTSD or other debilitating psychological problem. His problem is an allegory for the choking man. At one "explosive" point in the movie, he does something that frees him, and he banishes his demons. However, working up to that point, he appears painfully shy, possibly homicidal at times (because he cannot express what he wants to say/do) and at the very least very angry or desperate. But how he reacts is to quietly observe, dash away, hide, and wait to be found. I loved the story unfolding, I loved the odd daydream-like animations (note, many of the animations flow into "demon" shapes, and his hallucinatory "roommate" has some perverse sexual imagery that Jorge tries hard to block out, but the animations are otherwise about bunnies and sweet things.) Score is great, as has been mentioned. I thought this actor was extraordinarily good with a part that has very little speaking. This is a guy who can act with this eyes. Supporting cast is appropriate, desperate, have small stories that are additive and round it out. Good film if you like awkward, flawed characters. It's just stories about sweet, flawed folks playing out over a Thanksgiving. That's what was so great. I don't think the fact that many are "immigrants" is important in the story, they just happen to have accents, and it adds to the sweetness.. 
I understand, but I don't know
I understand the premise, the characters, the gritty realism, but what
I don't understand what this movie is about. During the film, I kept thinking about how "In Between Days", also released this year, was a far superior film about the immigrant experience. That film's overall "alone in the world" sense was conveyed much better. I liked the character of Amy, played by Ms. Yuan, but I don't feel enough was done for her. The character of Jorge, while I understand his pathological shyness, is annoying. I've been told this actor is good, and he probably is, but this role does nothing for me. And, Mandy Patinkin, usually so good, is completely wasted in his role. He is clearly a one note performer in the role of the diner owner. I like that the film was shot on location in Queens, applaud the effort the writer/director/producer made, understand all the characters, but do not like the film. I will, however, look for the films the two main characters have been in. They have potential, but this film shouldn't be the one they're most proud of.. |
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