The low-budget gem "Staccato Purr of the Exhaust" is a Latino-themed foray into Jim Jarmusch/Gregg Araki territory by debut filmmaker Luis M. Meza. It was filmed more than four years ago and featured at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival.
A droll black comedy with winning performances, led by Ronald Garcia as the sweet-but-victimized central character, "Staccato" was shot on location in Los Angeles' Highland Park neighborhood and intriguingly reveals truths about Latino culture through insightful moments of observation and broad, satirical portrayals of people and places.
While its overall appeal may not be broad -- "Staccato" has played only limited engagements and festival bookings -- it's one of the strongest first films of the past few years. On a different track than many 1990s indie filmmakers, Meza steers away from violence and sex, concentrating instead on making the well-realized characters dance to a moody tune that is both humorous and whimsically sad.
Aside from deliberate pacing, there's nothing remotely boring about the film's approach or material. Introduced tending to his prized 1971 Chevelle, Leonard (Garcia) has a job and a girlfriend, but it's his misfortune to live at home with covertly hostile parents (Julia Vera, Roman Jerzy) who start selling his possessions with no warning and show no sympathy when he meekly protests.
As other important people in Leonard's life are introduced, it seems at first that his tale of aborted escape from a suburban nightmare will sink into mean-spirited light comedy. His artist girlfriend (Michelle Beauchamp) has little control over her fists when she loses her temper. After his stereo is sold by his devious parents, Leonard gives his records to his best friend (Dennis Brooks), who is a bigoted, racist jerk.
In smartly written scenes, and with help from a vigorous score by David Hamma and the group Burning Sofa No. 10, "Staccato" takes an abrupt turn when Leonard's car is stolen in front of his eyes. The landscape appears to conspire to keep him from hitting the road for Texas, where he believes life will be better.
Leonard rebels against those who heap abuse on him, but getting out isn't easy. Locked out of his home, he has increasingly strange encounters with a gang-like crime-prevention group that boasts of its rumbles with the Guardian Angels over local turf.
Leonard's awkward attempts at reconciliation with his parents and revelations about his girlfriend further clarify his role in life and strengthen his resolve to leave. While the ending is ambiguous, one has no doubts that Leonard will continue to evolve into a thoughtful, perhaps too-shy-at-times, but likable and responsible adult.
STACCATO PURR OF THE EXHAUST
A skunkboy ink, muscle-plus-hate industries presentation
AV Media-Bedlam-Areolis Pictures
Writer-director-producer:Luis M. Meza
Director of photography:Nick Rivera
Editor:Marian Rooney
Music:David Hamma and Burning Sofa No. 10
Art directors:Fon Chen, Irina Rivera, Christy Schnabel, Victoria Van Laanen
Production leader:Ken Neal
Casting:Orlette Ruiz
Color/stereo
Cast:
Leonard:Ronald Garcia
Lily:Michelle Beauchamp
Steve:Dennis Brooks
Mother:Julia Vera
Father:Roman Jerzy
Running time -- 93 minutes
No MPAA rating...
A droll black comedy with winning performances, led by Ronald Garcia as the sweet-but-victimized central character, "Staccato" was shot on location in Los Angeles' Highland Park neighborhood and intriguingly reveals truths about Latino culture through insightful moments of observation and broad, satirical portrayals of people and places.
While its overall appeal may not be broad -- "Staccato" has played only limited engagements and festival bookings -- it's one of the strongest first films of the past few years. On a different track than many 1990s indie filmmakers, Meza steers away from violence and sex, concentrating instead on making the well-realized characters dance to a moody tune that is both humorous and whimsically sad.
Aside from deliberate pacing, there's nothing remotely boring about the film's approach or material. Introduced tending to his prized 1971 Chevelle, Leonard (Garcia) has a job and a girlfriend, but it's his misfortune to live at home with covertly hostile parents (Julia Vera, Roman Jerzy) who start selling his possessions with no warning and show no sympathy when he meekly protests.
As other important people in Leonard's life are introduced, it seems at first that his tale of aborted escape from a suburban nightmare will sink into mean-spirited light comedy. His artist girlfriend (Michelle Beauchamp) has little control over her fists when she loses her temper. After his stereo is sold by his devious parents, Leonard gives his records to his best friend (Dennis Brooks), who is a bigoted, racist jerk.
In smartly written scenes, and with help from a vigorous score by David Hamma and the group Burning Sofa No. 10, "Staccato" takes an abrupt turn when Leonard's car is stolen in front of his eyes. The landscape appears to conspire to keep him from hitting the road for Texas, where he believes life will be better.
Leonard rebels against those who heap abuse on him, but getting out isn't easy. Locked out of his home, he has increasingly strange encounters with a gang-like crime-prevention group that boasts of its rumbles with the Guardian Angels over local turf.
Leonard's awkward attempts at reconciliation with his parents and revelations about his girlfriend further clarify his role in life and strengthen his resolve to leave. While the ending is ambiguous, one has no doubts that Leonard will continue to evolve into a thoughtful, perhaps too-shy-at-times, but likable and responsible adult.
STACCATO PURR OF THE EXHAUST
A skunkboy ink, muscle-plus-hate industries presentation
AV Media-Bedlam-Areolis Pictures
Writer-director-producer:Luis M. Meza
Director of photography:Nick Rivera
Editor:Marian Rooney
Music:David Hamma and Burning Sofa No. 10
Art directors:Fon Chen, Irina Rivera, Christy Schnabel, Victoria Van Laanen
Production leader:Ken Neal
Casting:Orlette Ruiz
Color/stereo
Cast:
Leonard:Ronald Garcia
Lily:Michelle Beauchamp
Steve:Dennis Brooks
Mother:Julia Vera
Father:Roman Jerzy
Running time -- 93 minutes
No MPAA rating...
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