Somewhere in the City (1998)

The film portrays life of New York City's Lower East Side inhabitants. Introvert therapist Betty is befriended with Chinese immigrant Lu Lu, leftist radical Che is also Lu Lu's friend. ... See full summary »

Director:

Ramin Niami

Writers:

Patrick Dillon, Ramin Niami

Stars:

Sandra Bernhard, Ornella Muti, Robert John Burke

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sandra Bernhard	...	Betty
Ornella Muti	...	Marta
Robert John Burke	...	Frankie
Peter Stormare	...	Graham
Bai Ling	...	Lu Lu
Paul Anthony Stewart	...	Che
Bulle Ogier	...	Brigitte
Linda Dano	...	Television Producer
Bill Sage	...	Justin
Steven Schub
Kim Walker	...	Molly, Texas Acting Student
John Fugelsang	...	Henry
Robert H. Shapiro	...	Larry
Kelly Dupre	...	2-Kool
Jimmy Noonan	...	Brian

Storyline

The film portrays life of New York City's Lower East Side inhabitants. Introvert therapist Betty is befriended with Chinese immigrant Lu Lu, leftist radical Che is also Lu Lu's friend. Italian immigrant and wife of supervisor of building where they all live, Marta, is having an affair with her neighbour Frankie who likes scams. One of his scams goes terribly wrong.

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Plot Keywords:

independent film

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Genres:

Drama | Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some strong sexuality, language and for brief drug use

Details

Official Sites:

official site Sideshow Films

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 September 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Em Algum Lugar da Cidade

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$7,016 (USA) (18 September 1998)

Gross:

$7,016 (USA) (18 September 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sideshow

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

An hilarious farce destined to be a classic!

The director, Ramin Niami, delivers the goods with Somewhere in the City. This hilarious farce, I believe, is in the tradition of a Mel Brooks comedy. Niami pokes fun at New York society by creating the believable, eccentric, and tragic characters of one tenement apartment building bringing them to life from the very opening one shots that introduce them. Peter Stormare's performance as a gay Shakespearean actor is absolutely award worthy and the film in general does a good job at showing the hopelessness and laugh-ability of self-centered ambition. Sandra Bernhard is cast perfectly as the straight, self-obsessed therapist. I really enjoyed Sandra's performance immensely especially since I haven't really been a very big fan until now. Bai Ling, Ornella Muti, and Bulle Ogier round out an international ensemble par excellence. I loved the scene with Robert John Burke and his gang of idiot criminals who couldn't plan a robbery if their lives depended on it. With a cameo appearance by Mayor Ed Koch and a solid performance by Paul Anthony Stewart, the revolutionary momma's boy, Somewhere in the City entertains without missing a beat.