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Yesterday I drove to Dallas to attend the Dallas International Film Festival's showing of the Irish movie PARKED. Starring Colm Meaney (of DS9!) and Colin Morgan (Merlin!) the film was a very moving account of the life of a homeless man named Fred Daly, and his friendship with a much younger homeless man named Cathal.
Of course, and I admit this freely, the reason I wanted to see this film was because I could (yay for living close to the screening!), and Colin Morgan starred in it. Okay, mostly because of Colin Morgan. Parked hasn't been widely released yet, and so when I found out via Nick![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cruentum that it was going to be shown close enough to me to zip over and see it, I grabbed a ticket asap. I just regret I didn't buy one for Sunday too, as I want to see it again, like now. Not only because there was some dialogue a bit hard to understand (Morgan uses his Irish accent, which was a challenge to understand in a few places--mostly when his character was high), but because I just want to experience it again.
So yesterday morning, I popped into my car--wearing green, seemed fitting lol--and headed for Dallas. Nice day for a drive! Passed the monstrous Cowboy Stadium on the way--that thing is scary, like a giant spaceship, I swear. ALIENS! AH!! Arrived at the theatre area and drove around once--this theatre is sat right next (OMG DID I JUST SAY 'is sat'?! I DID I DID! Why don't Americans use 'sat' like that?) next to Mockingbird Train Station. I could've taken the train. Parked in the parking garage and walked out and whee, first thing I saw were banners for the film festival.
The theatre itself, the Angelika, is a very nice theatre. Has some individual flare, and great popcorn. I lined up with other ticket holders, and commiserated with several people in the 'rush' line, who were hoping to get in if reserved seats weren't filled. (They did get in). The theatre itself we were in was a smaller one, and I sat higher than I usually do, but I got a good seat next to a couple of girls. This was my first time going to a theatre by myself, oddly enough. And in that atmosphere, it was fine and dandy. Everyone was talkative, and I had fun chatting with the two girls.
Then, after we watched a gazillion slides (including the company for the one girl who was next to me--she'd managed to convince them, as sponsors, to send her to the event lol), we settled in and an announcer with a microphone walked up to the front. He thanked us for attending the viewing, explained about the papers we were giving for judging (a small index-card size paper with numbers that one could tear through, 1-5, based on what we thought of the film--of course I tore through 5 right away!) and then he introduced us to to Producers Jacqueline Kerrin and Dominic Wright! BRILLIANT! I knew we wouldn't get Colin *darn* but this was awesome! They spoke a tiny bit and then we jumped into the movie.
Fred Daly is a homeless man, who lives in his car in a car park at Dublin Bay. He has a Mazda 626 that he has, over time, kitted out in such an organized way, he has everything but a kitchen sink. It is clear that he has been homeless for some time, his car is so organized. He even has a plant. He is a watch mender, and has spent his life doing odd jobs here and there, never really building a foundation for himself. He is a good man, a kind man, and takes care of himself scrupulously, best as a homeless man can. To see him walking down the street and talking to him, one would never guess he was homeless, and trying to get a foothold back into society (which keeps slamming the door on him, represented by his repeat visits to the office which is equivalent to the American welfare office, I believe).
He has all but lost hope, it is winter--bitter, bitter winter--when he notices a new car, a bright yellow thing--has taken up residence in the same car park. Fred is a curious man, and it isn't long before that curiosity makes him get out of his car to meet whoever owns the little yellow one.
Colin Morgan's character Cathal enters at this time. Curious name--to my American ears, it almost sounded like 'Carl' in pronunciation. Later I tried to say it properly--talk about tongue-tied! Anyway, Cathal is there with a friend who later drifts off, and he is the focus of the story.
Morgan's character is a drug addict, homeless (more is revealed why and how later), and is, like most desperate drug-addicts, in trouble with the man who he buys drugs from. Despite the differences, Cathal and Fred become friends. How this evolves is one of the real treats of the film--the lighthearted side, with humor and many smiley moments. Thanks to Cathal's encouragement, Fred meets a Swedish woman named Jules played by Milka (like the candy bar!) Ahlroth. Without Cathal, that would never have happened. Without Cathal, Fred would never have done many of the things he eventually did.
And that really is what Cathal does--encourages Fred to become more than he is. Given Cathal himself is in a rapidly-deteriorating state, there is a bittersweet poignancy that hit me hard when I realized as Fred moved up, grew stronger and refound himself thanks to Cathal's teasing but sincere goading, Cathal himself was plummeting fast to the rocky shore below, and was doing nothing to stop his descent.
Fred realizes this also. He tries to help Cathal, begging him to stop the drug use and Cathal promises...but promises are cheap, and things only get worse when the man he owes money to comes calling. Cathal has nothing, but his charm gets him another chance, and the cycle of doom is begun. The escalation of the amount he owes, along with the deepening of the stains from drug abuse on Cathal's teeth? So very, very chilling to watch.
I can't say anything more about the plot than this, as I was glad not to have been spoiled, but I can say a few other things.
First was the filming itself. From the opening sequence to the very end (which looped back to the beginning--something I do love), the camera work was just lovely. Along with the musical score (which is haunting, as I still hear it in my mind) the angles, colors, the intense close-ups all added to the mood of the story. For such a harsh story, it was beautiful in terms of the audio and visual elements. Gorgeous camera work.
This film, we were told later by the producers, was filmed during the coldest winter they've had in years, with bitter gale winds at times, and was filmed in a mere 21 days. (They couldn't say enough about the professionalism of both Meaney and Morgan...in fact, I wanted the to talk more! oh well). Yes, it is a simple story, mostly filmed in the car park, but they used all the scene locations to the fullest, no shot the same as before. It is funny how certain angles can add to the emotion of the different scenes. Whoever did the camera work? Brilliant, brilliant. And the close-ups! They weren't always pretty, those close-ups, but they were powerful. No one could watch this movie and not run the gamut of emotions, I don't think, and the music and the camera angles were a major part of wrenching the viewer apart. This viewer, at least.
The producers said they ended up having to cut a great deal off of Fred's story, mostly the London scenes, his previous life, his visit to the nursing home to see his father, making it less a Fred story than an 'anyone' story. That made ME squirm a great deal, considering I am currently not employed. How close are we all to going through what Fred did? Or worse, Cathal?
Colm Meaney was brilliant in his role of the downtrodden, adorably shy watch-mender. He made me care for Fred, and want him to achieve his newly-awakened dreams. He also made me admire him, for doing his best, despite his circumstances. He and Colin Morgan played off each other beautifully, believably. I completely accepted their friendship, how they came to care about each other. Stocky, older Fred and the loose, gangly Cathal--unlikely companions, but looks can be deceiving (which is one of the themes of the movie).
But for me, it was Colin Morgan who truly stole the screentime. From the moment his character was introduced, it was impossible not to be fascinated by Morgan's portrayal of the young, down-and-out drug addict Cathal. The producers told us later that Colin hung out with some drug addicts, talking to them, learning from them, how they moved and spoke, in order to deepen his character. He did indeed. He was never still, fidgety and expressive--his face in constant motion, his body jerky and loose. Very loose...the way he walked and moved was like a ragdoll at times, constant, sometimes frenetic motion. His character constantly smoked pot, and moved in and out of the heavier throes of its influence--one didn't need to be told when he was heavily stoned, or when he wasn't. His movements changed, his speech, his expressions, were all indicators enough. It absolutely tore me apart, watching him self-destruct. It was both terrible and amazing to watch.
What really got to me, especially on the big screen, were his teeth. Yes, his teeth! The producers mentioned later that yes, that was makeup... but the deterioration of his front teeth (ok not falling out, but stains, like tobacco) was mesmerizing and cringe-worthy... Just devastating, really. That was a visible sign of his addiction that he could not hide.
What was made very clear to me is that Colin Morgan is a brilliant actor, and that though I absolutely love him in Merlin, his role as the young warlock has barely challenged him. This role, and the role he played in the play he was in recently (Our Private Lives, which Nick attended), did push him, and hard. He has acting chops, that's for sure, and he definitely, definitely is an actor to watch. He's so young, and so damn good already! It was like watching brilliance in the making, watching him in that film.
I regret so much that I only got to see it this one time on the big screen, but I definitely will be buying a copy whenever I finally can. Highly recommend this movie, which is proof film makers can take a very simple story and make it as powerful (or more so) than the biggest-budgeted films out there.
Of course, and I admit this freely, the reason I wanted to see this film was because I could (yay for living close to the screening!), and Colin Morgan starred in it. Okay, mostly because of Colin Morgan. Parked hasn't been widely released yet, and so when I found out via Nick
cruentum that it was going to be shown close enough to me to zip over and see it, I grabbed a ticket asap. I just regret I didn't buy one for Sunday too, as I want to see it again, like now. Not only because there was some dialogue a bit hard to understand (Morgan uses his Irish accent, which was a challenge to understand in a few places--mostly when his character was high), but because I just want to experience it again. So yesterday morning, I popped into my car--wearing green, seemed fitting lol--and headed for Dallas. Nice day for a drive! Passed the monstrous Cowboy Stadium on the way--that thing is scary, like a giant spaceship, I swear. ALIENS! AH!! Arrived at the theatre area and drove around once--this theatre is sat right next (OMG DID I JUST SAY 'is sat'?! I DID I DID! Why don't Americans use 'sat' like that?) next to Mockingbird Train Station. I could've taken the train. Parked in the parking garage and walked out and whee, first thing I saw were banners for the film festival.
The theatre itself, the Angelika, is a very nice theatre. Has some individual flare, and great popcorn. I lined up with other ticket holders, and commiserated with several people in the 'rush' line, who were hoping to get in if reserved seats weren't filled. (They did get in). The theatre itself we were in was a smaller one, and I sat higher than I usually do, but I got a good seat next to a couple of girls. This was my first time going to a theatre by myself, oddly enough. And in that atmosphere, it was fine and dandy. Everyone was talkative, and I had fun chatting with the two girls.
Then, after we watched a gazillion slides (including the company for the one girl who was next to me--she'd managed to convince them, as sponsors, to send her to the event lol), we settled in and an announcer with a microphone walked up to the front. He thanked us for attending the viewing, explained about the papers we were giving for judging (a small index-card size paper with numbers that one could tear through, 1-5, based on what we thought of the film--of course I tore through 5 right away!) and then he introduced us to to Producers Jacqueline Kerrin and Dominic Wright! BRILLIANT! I knew we wouldn't get Colin *darn* but this was awesome! They spoke a tiny bit and then we jumped into the movie.
Fred Daly is a homeless man, who lives in his car in a car park at Dublin Bay. He has a Mazda 626 that he has, over time, kitted out in such an organized way, he has everything but a kitchen sink. It is clear that he has been homeless for some time, his car is so organized. He even has a plant. He is a watch mender, and has spent his life doing odd jobs here and there, never really building a foundation for himself. He is a good man, a kind man, and takes care of himself scrupulously, best as a homeless man can. To see him walking down the street and talking to him, one would never guess he was homeless, and trying to get a foothold back into society (which keeps slamming the door on him, represented by his repeat visits to the office which is equivalent to the American welfare office, I believe).
He has all but lost hope, it is winter--bitter, bitter winter--when he notices a new car, a bright yellow thing--has taken up residence in the same car park. Fred is a curious man, and it isn't long before that curiosity makes him get out of his car to meet whoever owns the little yellow one.
Colin Morgan's character Cathal enters at this time. Curious name--to my American ears, it almost sounded like 'Carl' in pronunciation. Later I tried to say it properly--talk about tongue-tied! Anyway, Cathal is there with a friend who later drifts off, and he is the focus of the story.
Morgan's character is a drug addict, homeless (more is revealed why and how later), and is, like most desperate drug-addicts, in trouble with the man who he buys drugs from. Despite the differences, Cathal and Fred become friends. How this evolves is one of the real treats of the film--the lighthearted side, with humor and many smiley moments. Thanks to Cathal's encouragement, Fred meets a Swedish woman named Jules played by Milka (like the candy bar!) Ahlroth. Without Cathal, that would never have happened. Without Cathal, Fred would never have done many of the things he eventually did.
And that really is what Cathal does--encourages Fred to become more than he is. Given Cathal himself is in a rapidly-deteriorating state, there is a bittersweet poignancy that hit me hard when I realized as Fred moved up, grew stronger and refound himself thanks to Cathal's teasing but sincere goading, Cathal himself was plummeting fast to the rocky shore below, and was doing nothing to stop his descent.
Fred realizes this also. He tries to help Cathal, begging him to stop the drug use and Cathal promises...but promises are cheap, and things only get worse when the man he owes money to comes calling. Cathal has nothing, but his charm gets him another chance, and the cycle of doom is begun. The escalation of the amount he owes, along with the deepening of the stains from drug abuse on Cathal's teeth? So very, very chilling to watch.
I can't say anything more about the plot than this, as I was glad not to have been spoiled, but I can say a few other things.
First was the filming itself. From the opening sequence to the very end (which looped back to the beginning--something I do love), the camera work was just lovely. Along with the musical score (which is haunting, as I still hear it in my mind) the angles, colors, the intense close-ups all added to the mood of the story. For such a harsh story, it was beautiful in terms of the audio and visual elements. Gorgeous camera work.
This film, we were told later by the producers, was filmed during the coldest winter they've had in years, with bitter gale winds at times, and was filmed in a mere 21 days. (They couldn't say enough about the professionalism of both Meaney and Morgan...in fact, I wanted the to talk more! oh well). Yes, it is a simple story, mostly filmed in the car park, but they used all the scene locations to the fullest, no shot the same as before. It is funny how certain angles can add to the emotion of the different scenes. Whoever did the camera work? Brilliant, brilliant. And the close-ups! They weren't always pretty, those close-ups, but they were powerful. No one could watch this movie and not run the gamut of emotions, I don't think, and the music and the camera angles were a major part of wrenching the viewer apart. This viewer, at least.
The producers said they ended up having to cut a great deal off of Fred's story, mostly the London scenes, his previous life, his visit to the nursing home to see his father, making it less a Fred story than an 'anyone' story. That made ME squirm a great deal, considering I am currently not employed. How close are we all to going through what Fred did? Or worse, Cathal?
Colm Meaney was brilliant in his role of the downtrodden, adorably shy watch-mender. He made me care for Fred, and want him to achieve his newly-awakened dreams. He also made me admire him, for doing his best, despite his circumstances. He and Colin Morgan played off each other beautifully, believably. I completely accepted their friendship, how they came to care about each other. Stocky, older Fred and the loose, gangly Cathal--unlikely companions, but looks can be deceiving (which is one of the themes of the movie).
But for me, it was Colin Morgan who truly stole the screentime. From the moment his character was introduced, it was impossible not to be fascinated by Morgan's portrayal of the young, down-and-out drug addict Cathal. The producers told us later that Colin hung out with some drug addicts, talking to them, learning from them, how they moved and spoke, in order to deepen his character. He did indeed. He was never still, fidgety and expressive--his face in constant motion, his body jerky and loose. Very loose...the way he walked and moved was like a ragdoll at times, constant, sometimes frenetic motion. His character constantly smoked pot, and moved in and out of the heavier throes of its influence--one didn't need to be told when he was heavily stoned, or when he wasn't. His movements changed, his speech, his expressions, were all indicators enough. It absolutely tore me apart, watching him self-destruct. It was both terrible and amazing to watch.
What really got to me, especially on the big screen, were his teeth. Yes, his teeth! The producers mentioned later that yes, that was makeup... but the deterioration of his front teeth (ok not falling out, but stains, like tobacco) was mesmerizing and cringe-worthy... Just devastating, really. That was a visible sign of his addiction that he could not hide.
What was made very clear to me is that Colin Morgan is a brilliant actor, and that though I absolutely love him in Merlin, his role as the young warlock has barely challenged him. This role, and the role he played in the play he was in recently (Our Private Lives, which Nick attended), did push him, and hard. He has acting chops, that's for sure, and he definitely, definitely is an actor to watch. He's so young, and so damn good already! It was like watching brilliance in the making, watching him in that film.
I regret so much that I only got to see it this one time on the big screen, but I definitely will be buying a copy whenever I finally can. Highly recommend this movie, which is proof film makers can take a very simple story and make it as powerful (or more so) than the biggest-budgeted films out there.
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