'Choking Man' - a quirky, credible look at life

By Tony Watts - Editor - 14/11/2008

Jamaica, Queens is, as the name suggests, multi-cultural. What the name doesn’t tell you is just how multicultural. There are 140 languages spoken in this borough tangential to the JFK flight path and Jorge (Octavio Gomez Berrios), a shy Ecuadorian dishwasher at Rick’s Diner, mumbles a few words a week in one of them. Jorge is smitten by the vivacious and friendly new Chinese waitress, Amy, (Eugenia Yuan) but is helpless to express himself let alone compete with the smooth-talking ex-con cook, Jerry (Aaron Paul).

Along with staring all day at an old health and safety poster above the sink that shows what to do in the event of choking, Jorge is bullied by Jerry. Things don’t get better when Jorge returns at night to his drab bed-sit where an imaginary man speaking impeccable Spanish berates and goads him, criticising him for not going after Amy and occasionally making instructing him how to go about that task.  No one pays much attention to Jorge, until one day when he has the chance to become a hero.

This quirky, independent film captures the atmosphere of Queens and offers us a credible look at life in an old fashioned neighbourhood restaurant that takes pride in its modest food and has an eclectic mix of repeat customers.

 

The film has enough charm and spirited acting, particularly from Yuan and Mandy Patinkin as the diner’s good natured boss, to keep you engaged, but some of that charm is too contrived. And, at only 83 minutes, the film drags. Two long scenes, one where Jerry takes Amy to a carpet shop and another where a homeless man approaches Jorge on the subway platform are superfluous while the rest of the film needs tighter editing.

 

This is a surprising choice for Steve Barron, the director of Coneheads, Merlin, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and British football spoof, Mike Bassett-England Manager, but it’s the first time he’s directed from his own screenplay. Barron is certainly a versatile talent, and I’d be curious to see what he does next.