-By Justin Lowe
For movie details, please click here.
Sean Baker's third feature is a fine example of how an independent
film's economical scale can sometimes deliver substantial payoffs.
Admirably resourceful,
Prince of Broadway thrives in that
increasingly fertile stylistic niche combining documentary and
narrative aesthetics. The film's ample charisma, along with an
evocative social theme, signals clear art-house potential.
With a straightforward setup, Baker introduces West African
immigrant Lucky (Prince Adu), one of New York City's numerous
illegals surviving on the fringes of the conventional economy. Full
of bravado, guile and gleeful smack talk, he hustles counterfeit
designer fashions for Armenian-Lebanese shopkeeper Levon (Karren
Karagulian) on midtown Broadway.
Lucky's player image takes a major hit when sketchy ex-girlfriend
Linda (Kat Sanchez) shows up with her 18-month-old (Aiden Noesi)
and literally leaves the toddler in his arms, claiming that Lucky's
the father and that she needs him to take care of the little boy
for a couple of weeks. Since contacting the child-welfare
authorities would reveal his immigration status, Lucky's stuck with
the kid after Linda disappears.
Trading late nights drinking and smoking with buddies for changing
diapers and other childcare responsibilities, Lucky discovers a
world of woe and unexpected joy with the boy he later names Prince.
After his attempts to track down Linda and return the kid prove
fruitless, however, Lucky decides to take a DNA test to determine
if Prince is indeed his child.
Writer-director Baker weaves this simple character-driven story,
rooted in contemporary concerns of social realism, into a
multilayered meditation on masculinity, nationality and race, never
prioritizing the tricky theme of assimilation over his characters'
quests to attain a tenuous personal and social equilibrium.
The largely non-professional cast is a major asset, with the actors
relying on collaboratively developed improvisational dialogue and
authentic dramatic situations to achieve persuasive performances.
The filmmakers were particularly fortunate with toddler Aiden
Noesi, whose humorous antics fuel an easy and unaffected rapport
with co-star Prince Adu, another natural actor.
Shot mostly handheld by Baker on HD with adept, uncluttered
camerawork, staged in realistic, intimate settings and underpinned
by overlapping streetwise dialogue,
Prince of Broadway is
the genuine article.
-
The Hollywood Reporter
Film Review: Prince of Broadway
Urban immigrants sympathetically struggle to attain an approximation of the American Dream.
Sept 2, 2010
-By Justin Lowe
For movie details, please click here.
Sean Baker's third feature is a fine example of how an independent film's economical scale can sometimes deliver substantial payoffs. Admirably resourceful,
Prince of Broadway thrives in that increasingly fertile stylistic niche combining documentary and narrative aesthetics. The film's ample charisma, along with an evocative social theme, signals clear art-house potential.
With a straightforward setup, Baker introduces West African immigrant Lucky (Prince Adu), one of New York City's numerous illegals surviving on the fringes of the conventional economy. Full of bravado, guile and gleeful smack talk, he hustles counterfeit designer fashions for Armenian-Lebanese shopkeeper Levon (Karren Karagulian) on midtown Broadway.
Lucky's player image takes a major hit when sketchy ex-girlfriend Linda (Kat Sanchez) shows up with her 18-month-old (Aiden Noesi) and literally leaves the toddler in his arms, claiming that Lucky's the father and that she needs him to take care of the little boy for a couple of weeks. Since contacting the child-welfare authorities would reveal his immigration status, Lucky's stuck with the kid after Linda disappears.
Trading late nights drinking and smoking with buddies for changing diapers and other childcare responsibilities, Lucky discovers a world of woe and unexpected joy with the boy he later names Prince. After his attempts to track down Linda and return the kid prove fruitless, however, Lucky decides to take a DNA test to determine if Prince is indeed his child.
Writer-director Baker weaves this simple character-driven story, rooted in contemporary concerns of social realism, into a multilayered meditation on masculinity, nationality and race, never prioritizing the tricky theme of assimilation over his characters' quests to attain a tenuous personal and social equilibrium.
The largely non-professional cast is a major asset, with the actors relying on collaboratively developed improvisational dialogue and authentic dramatic situations to achieve persuasive performances. The filmmakers were particularly fortunate with toddler Aiden Noesi, whose humorous antics fuel an easy and unaffected rapport with co-star Prince Adu, another natural actor.
Shot mostly handheld by Baker on HD with adept, uncluttered camerawork, staged in realistic, intimate settings and underpinned by overlapping streetwise dialogue,
Prince of Broadway is the genuine article.
-
The Hollywood Reporter
