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- First reviewApril 12, 2008
- Last reviewApril 12, 2008
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Music Saves Solitary White Man
PostedApril 12, 2008
arevarc
from Brooklyn
This film about a widowed and lonely white male professor (of economics) who experiences growth as a result of cultural contact with a Syrian and Senegalese illegal immigrant couple that he discovers living in his NYC apartment is worth seeing. While djembe drumming serves as the social "glue" that bonds the primary characters, Tarik and Walter, US immigration policy serves as the destructive force that harms innocent people. As such, Tom McCarthy's drama intends to highlight the tragedy of belonging/not belonging that defines illegal immigrant status. The film's conceit that music can offer a sort of salvation for a man in the classical trope of "a life of quiet desperation" seems promising. Although the film has something worthwhile to say, its structure is rather simplistic: Act One- everyone gets to know each other, with a humorous and musical undertow; Act Two- tragedy strikes, enter the Hollywood film score. Ultimately its a depressing tale, as the audience is left with the image of Walter flailing away on his djembe in the subway. Catharsis, anger, self-expression? or just a powerless professor of cultural economics.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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