Review of Stand Clear of the Closing Doors (2014) by Daniel M — 11 Mar 2014
This is truly an amazing film, especially for any New Yorker. The cinematography brings alive the experience of riding the NYC subways, putting it all from the perspective of how an autistic child would take it all in.
The acting is superb, especially from Andrea Suarez Paz as Ricky's undocumented but educated mom, struggling to find her son while also avoiding detection by police. But the most resonant elements of the film are simply in the TIMING of it all: they shot the film at Halloween 2012, with no idea that Sandy was bearing down, and the hurricane's approach and ultimate destruction adds a whole new layer to the drama.
Then, in addition, the film was completed and picked up for release just before the death of Avonte Oquendo, the autistic NY teen who'd gone missing for days, in Queens, just like Ricky. It adds up to a walloping film, one that deserves everybody's attention.
This review of Stand Clear of the Closing Doors (2014) was written by Daniel M on 11 Mar 2014.
Stand Clear of the Closing Doors has generally received positive reviews.
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