Mind the Gap

'Mind the Gap' is an enchanting spiritual quest by eccentric characters who by converging from the sylvan north, south, west and east to the gritty sidewalks of the island of Manhattan, face death, their own or a loved one's, in different ways and find salvation in accepting that no person is an island.

While each is as damaged from relationships as the motley crew in 'Italian for Beginners,' this is far more than a romantic quest as these oddballs, who we on a rotating basis very gradually learn how they got so damaged, cannot have real relationships, including between parents and children, until they solve their spiritual malaise to make a positive choice. Their physical health and sensual perceptions are also linked to their emotional and spiritual well-being.

While the film is very long as it leisurely follows these characters' twisted trajectories, the mostly strong acting (particularly by Alan King in what I presume was his last film role) and the intriguing situations and lively conversations keep us curious, though the precocious kids interact with the adults like Gilmore Girls.

Like 'Magnolia,' we gradually find that some of the characters are linked in disturbing ways, others by coincidence (asymptotically cute) of need, time and place, but unpredictably. As brutally frank about the weaknesses, cruelties and foibles of human nature as the former film, writer/director/producer/co-star Eric Schaeffer is less cynical and more hopeful than Paul Thomas Anderson, without resorting to incredible magic realism to restore faith.

While these characters literally face the notorious undertow of the waters of Spuyten Duyvil (spiting the devil, per Dutch folklore about the treacherous waters off the mainland) --and their uniform hatred of the NY Yankees-- to enter Manhattan, I didn't catch all the theological interpretations about the sins of the fathers to discern any particular philosophical consistency about forgiveness, including the Krishna Das tracks on the soundtrack. I do question the meaningfulness of a child granting forgiveness to an adult, but I think it's about the adults growing-up.

Co-star singer/songwriter Jill Sobule's "Bitter" (available both on her CD 'Happy Town' and the compilation 'I Never Learned to Swim: Jill Sobule 1990-2000') serves as the satisfying culmination; five other of her songs, not specifically written for the film, are also featured as commentary, as she plays an isolated busker with a literal broken heart.

Some recurring images I didn't quite get yet, particularly of a dancer in Times Square, perhaps going around and around at the crossroads of the world.

One of the most hopeful and uplifting movies I've seen in a long time, it will bring a smile to "mind the gap" every time I get on and off the subway -- the gap between reach and grasp, between nirvana and humanity.

I watch so many movies, most of them become like wallpaper to my life, barely worthy of comment other than the 90 minute-long void in my life that they fill.

'Mind the Gap', however, was such enthralling viewing, and filled with so many points that made me question my own actions in life, that when the titles came up at the end, I actually felt that I had spent my time wisely, and felt so uplifted I had a tangible 'up-ness' about me! Superb acting, well-shot, and the intermingling stories provide a plot rich in human experience.

The most note-worthy film I have seen in a (sadly) long, long time! :-)

I was tempted to give up on this movie very early on. It seemed odd, sluggish and pretentious in that 'Touched by an Angel' sort of way.

And it was. The movie tries very hard to be heart-warming and self-important to the point that I imagine turns off many viewers.

But they are missing out on a true gem. Despite its over-earnest nature, the movie succeeds in being a feel-good movie thanks to a well-written story and some superb acting by a group of relative unknowns.

The film touches on 5 very different people's lives and how they keep their heads up despite some very sad fortunes. The film teases at first, giving us almost no information about these characters and expecting us to care about them as they plod along. But patience is certainly a rewarded virtue here as the BIGGER PICTURE is slowly revealed and the intricacies of these character's lives come together in a way I would have never imagined.

The fantastic acting done by the whole cast helps to move the story along whenever it appears to be stalling. Each actor manages to etch out deep, hidden emotions and secrets from their characters that are not fully-realized until the very end of the film. If nothing else, this movie is a great study of "effect and cause", rather than "cause and effect". You are privileged to see how each character has been changed by events in their life long before you find out what those events were and how profoundly they impacted their recipients.

In some vague ways, this movie reminds me of the 1984 film 'Paris, Texas' starring Nastassja Kinski and Harry Dean Stanton. A sparse, slow-moving film about a man deeply affected by an event we don't know until the last 15 minutes.

Looking at it's IMDb page, another user gives 'Paris, Texas' the "Life-Changing Movie" stamp of approval that others have given 'Mind the Gap', and I agree. If you have the patience and can stomach the incessant mushiness, 'Mind the Gap' is the type of film that makes you step back and look at the world (and your life) with fresh eyes. There is nothing in this movie that will blow the average-movie watcher away - but that is precisely why it is so good - it just doesn't work without YOU.

YOU are the 6th story - the 6th character.

'Mind the Gap' only sets up the formula, the pattern.

***YOU fill in THE GAP***

I had little to no expectations of this film and knew absolutely nothing about it. I was flabbergasted. It is really an excellent film. It made me cry but in a really good way. It is just very beautiful and moving. It makes you want to believe in something. I saw his other film, If Lucy Fell, and it meant nothing to me, I forgot about it after watching it. But this one is a total gem. I almost feel like it's my special little secret. But I want to share it with everyone because it really made me happy. That's just what it does. It makes you smile and it makes you feel something for the characters (the acting is fantastic). I acquired several crushes by the end of the film. Please, go to your local independent video retailer and rent it (or better yet buy it) right now.

I watched this movie in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep. I had no idea what to expect, having never heard of the movie, and was pleasantly surprised.

What an amazing and diverse group of characters, all very complex. By the end I cared deeply for all of them.

The story lines were riveting and unpredictable. In the beginning, I couldn't imagine where this movie was going but it was a pleasure to watch it evolve.

I have not had a movie affect me like this in a very long time. Some very powerful and emotional messages....I highly recommend it and can't wait to see it again.