SUBWAYS

US, 2015, 91 minutes, Colour.
Dane Harrington Joseph, Daniel Armando, Adrienne Lovette, Linda Manning.
Directed by Dane Harrington Joseph.

Subways is a brief American film written by Dane Harrington Joseph who takes the lead role. He plays Caleb, who works in a casting directors’ company, a subordinate, managing, making lists, hiring and firing, observing the singers and dancers as they audition.

The film moves through the stages parallel to Elizabeth Kubler Ross and her stages of grieving, from isolation, through to anger, bargaining, depression, resolution. These are all captioned throughout the film.

Caleb is African- American but has a half brother, the same father, but whose mother is white, and both have been brought up by the white mother – with a certain amount of dependence but also resentment, especially aimed at his brother ridiculing him for his lack of talent while he wants auditions.

The film sketches of various characters of the company, especially the chief who is also strong on hiring and firing. Caleb is also bashed by the friend of the young woman whom he fired. He spends a lot of the time with bandages on his face – but there are many interruptions with flashbacks.

Caleb travels on the subway and uses the subway as a symbol of the microcosm of the world, the number of commuters, the people, their lives, and his reflection on the meaning of life.

1. The title? New York City? The subway system, the trains and stations, the passengers, commuters? The subway is a place for observing people, human nature, an opportunity for reflection? The voice-over reflections?

2. The New York story, the stages of life and grief, from isolation, through anger, through bargaining, to depression, to resolution?

3. The world of casting directors, the office, the audition hall, the arrangements and lists, the office workers, their desks, the girl organising the glasses and other functions – and her being fired? The range of audition people, singers and the unexpected fine performance? The dancers? The staff, the supervisor, the selection of those to come back?

4. Caleb, his story? His age, black, his experience, personal life, at the office, the different clashes, with the boss? Feeling of isolation? Moving to anger? The lists, telling off the girl and firing her, the arrival of his brother, the explanation that they shared a father? His friends, conversation, drinks, his moodiness with them? On the subway, his reflections?

5. His life, his relationships, ups and downs with his brother, spurning him, saying had no talent when his brother wanted auditions? The father, the visit of his mother, her reprimanding a Caleb, quoting his actual mother and her abandoning him? Her love for Elliot? The interactions with Elliot, Caleb hard on him?

6. The encounter with the girl in the street, the boyfriend, the background of the firing, the bashing, his bandage and his wearing it throughout the film?

7. Caleb, reflection, depression, flashbacks, his behaviour, remembering?

8. The background are friends, the gatherings, the diners, the chatter? The men, the women? Work and skills?

9. The audience getting to know a particular character? And his future?