THE CHOKING MAN

US, 2006, 84 minutes, Colour.
Mandy Patinkin, Eugena Yuan.
Directed by Steve Barron.

This is one of those brief, affecting low-budget independent films that invites the audience into a small, sometimes overlooked world and spend some time with characters that we might generally not meet or only notice in passing.

We are in a diner in Jamaica, Queens, New York, not exactly the centre of the universe, but, as the Greek American proprietor of the diner (Mandy Patinkin) says, there are 140 languages spoken there. We are going to meet the staff.

Jorge (Octavio Gomez) is a quiet young man from Ecuador who spends most of his waking life washing dishes and mopping the floor. He travels by subway to his apartment where he lives alone – well, not exactly alone, we see a white man there who spends a lot of time telling Jorge what to do. It is his stronger alter ego who often speaks a lot of good sense to the painfully shy and taciturn Jorge.

Among the staff at the shop is Jerry, a young ex-con from Philadelphia, who enjoys teasing Jorge. A middle-aged woman who is disappointed by the treatment she receives from her family is the stalwart of the staff, strong and kindly.

Then a new member of staff arrives, Amy (Eugenia Yuan), a sweet Chinese young woman who is niceness personified – to everyone, but especially to Jorge whose 'roommate' urges him to befriend her and give her a present.

Nothing much happens on the surface. The proprietor and his gorgon wife go to Florida for Thanksgiving. Jorge is caught up in his inner life. Amy continues to be nice to people. Jerry comes back and harasses Jorge some more.

The main drama comes from a regular customer choking on a fishbone and unable to dislodge it. Eventually, Jorge reluctantly comes to the rescue, putting into practice the moves, the Heimlich Maneuver, shown on a poster that he always works under.

Steve Barron has a strong reputation as a director of music videos. His small repertoire of films includes Electric Dreams, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Mike Bassett, England Manager (with Ricky Tomlinson).

A pleasing small sketch of a movie that also uses animation sequences to illustrate Jorge's inner life and conflicts.

1.A slice of life? Brief, modest? The small focus?

2.The director, his film career, music videos? His decision to write and direct a small story?

3.The title, the poster, health, its place in the kitchen, the explanation of the procedure – Jorge and his working under it? The actual experience of a choking man?

4.Jamaica, Queens? A small world, the diner, one hundred and forty languages spoken, the subway overpass, the streets, stations, bridges, apartments? Authentic? The musical score?

5.The owner, Greek background, the Olympic Café, his silent wife? The menus? The staff, the chef, the waiters, the middle-aged woman and her being the den mother? Jorge and his washing and mopping? A microcosm?

6.Jorge, the background from Ecuador, the migrant, his age, shy, lonely, not talking much, Jerry teasing him and its hurting him? His travel home, alone, watching the television, eating his sandwich?

7.The roommate? Real or imagined? An alter-ego? White, male, his age, his frequent comments, the critique, commenting on the sandwich, on the television? The sex question? His comments about Amy, his urging Jorge to buy a present and give it to her?

8.Amy, coming for the interview, her charm, getting the job, the Chinese background, getting money for her family? At work, with the customers? The owner, the other members of the staff? Her chatting with people? Jerry flirting with her? Jorge finding her very kind?

9.Jorge, her reaction, looking at the dragon in the shop, going in, his awkwardness, getting the gift, giving it to Amy?

10.Jerry, his background, prison, his nasty comments to Jorge? Flirting with Amy?

11.The woman on the staff, her family, Thanksgiving, her being hurt by her family? Her friendship?

12.The owner, his wife, going away for Thanksgiving, Florida?

13.Amy, her support, the customers?

14.The customer, the menu, being alone, the fish soup, his choking, the staff finding it difficult, Jorge and his using the procedure?

15.A glimpse of people, characters, changing, the possibility of growth? A portrait of human nature, defects – but kindness?