Adrift in Manhattan (2007)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Alfredo De Villa

Writers:

Nat Moss (screenplay)
Alfredo De Villa (story)

Release Date:

6 June 2008 (Mexico)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The lives of three lonely strangers intersect while commuting on New York's 1 and 9 subway lines.

Plot Keywords:

Subway | Camera | Interracial Relationship | Borough Name In Title | Masturbation

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Heather Graham	...	Rose Phipps
Victor Rasuk	...	Simon Colón
Dominic Chianese	...	Tommaso Pensara
William Baldwin	...	Mark Phipps
Elizabeth Peña	...	Isabel Parades
Erika Michels	...	Claire Phipps
Marlene Forte	...	Marta Colón
Richard Petrocelli	...	Mr. Sneider
Nicole Leach	...	Melanie
Karen Olivo	...	Ana
Liam de Villa	...	Casey Phipps
Keren Love Perilman	...	Jen (as Keren Perilman)
Karina Arroyave	...	Christina
Alexis Smith	...	Yvette
Anthony Cirillo	...	Carlitos

Also Known As:

1/9 (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content, some nudity and language.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company:

Cineglobe Productions

Quotes:

Mr. Sneider: The guy who invented the digital camera: the number-one reason to repeal the assault-weapon ban.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs The French Connection (1971)

Fragments of Coicidence and Connection

Though there have been many films of late that address the issues of the isolation of the individual in a society increasingly settling for homogeneity, few have the honesty and simplicity of presentation as Alfredo De Villa's ADRIFT IN MANHATTAN. Perhaps the reason this film works so well is that instead of dealing with the usual tropes, De Villa restricts his story to three individuals who are suffering isolation in the noise and autonomy of New York City and are thus 'adrift' in a life that seems flat and without a beacon of hope. The story De Villa weaves is one of interaction of these characters by almost serendipitous incidents, moments that change their lives - at least for a while.

Teenager Simon Colon (Victor Rasuk) lives with his overbearing mother Marta (Marlene Forte) and gets through his life almost without speaking, working in a camera shop, spending his idle hours photographing people in the park. Tommaso Pensara (Dominic Chianese) is an elderly painter and music lover who lives alone and supports himself by being the 'mail boy' in a large firm: his loneliness is heightened when he discovers he has macular degeneration and will go blind. The physician who makes his diagnosis is Dr. Rose Phipps (Heather Graham) who is grieving from the recent death of her 2-year old child and is unable to continue her marriage to literature professor Mark Phipps (William Baldwin).

The threads of coincidence begin to tie these people together when Simon begins to photograph Rose in a manner that resembles stalking, when Tommaso notices and desires and older lady at his workplace, Isabel Parades (Elizabeth Peña) and is encouraged by Dr Rose to share his potential blindness with this friend, and when Rose explores the attention Simon bestows on her, filling an emotional need for both parties. Naturally the development of these intersections is more complex but at the same time the manner in which they develop is very tender and gentle.

Some viewers may find the film meandering a bit too much: this is not linear storytelling but rather shifts in incidents and moods and gradual changes that occur among these simple but needy people, much like the coincidences and random kindnesses occur to the sensitive eye. The cast is very fine and the cinematography and musical score sustain the mood of the piece. This film requires involvement on the part of the viewer, and that involvement has its rewards. Grady Harp