How does the protean Steven
Soderbergh—the rare indie trailblazer inventive
and confident enough to play in Hollywood on his
own terms—follow up a glossy studio picture
starring some of the world’s most glamorous
movie stars? By shooting an absolutely riveting
little tragedy in High Def in an Ohio doll factory,
starring non-professional actors as enthralling
in their untrained sincerity as George Clooney
is in his expert panache. The stunted tale of
doll-assembler Martha (an astonishing, sustained
performance by real-life cashier Debbie Doebereiner),
her young factory friend Kyle, and Rose, the thorny
new hire, packs shades of mystery, menace, triangular
romantic jealousy, and everyday punch-the-clock
ennui into its documentary-style contours. And
that’s even before the violent death….
This haunting experimental project is the first
in a series of low-budget dramas Soderbergh plans
to shoot around America. 72 min. USA,
2005 A Magnolia Pictures Release. *Director
expected to attend.
Click here for New York Times review and festival coverage.
Shown with
Eager to return home to become and English translator, our hero bides his time caring for his master and hanging out in this slyly sweet slice of life.
Click here to watch select short films from the
43rd New York Film Festival, available exclusively
online at NYTimes.com
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