Review of Chop Shop (2008) by Sam C — 30 Nov 2009

And whoever said that Italian neo-realism was dead? Chop Shop follows the exploits of young Alejandro (or Ale, as his peers call him) as he hustles and flows in the Iron Triangle, a third-world country of auto body repair shops that exists right outside of the Queens. He earns money whatever way he can, whether it's from helping out at local body shops, selling candy on the subway or by selling pornography to the local workers.

If you enjoy films by Larry Clark or Harmony Korine, or even a film like This is England, then you would dig this. Like those films mentioned above, you are given a slice of life of a poor young lad working his way through the adult world, talking about getting blowjobs and drinking Heinekens after a hard day's work. We see a handful of Ale's trials and tribulations, especially his dream of buying a food truck to own with his older sister so the two of them can live happily making their own money.

Not everything is a downer. We see glimpses of life with Ale and his young friend. There are rare moments that surface where we are reminded that Ale IS just a twelve-year-old boy, like when he tosses a shopping carriage off a bridge or playing games in the street with his young companion. Even the closing shot gives us hope that life goes on, and that Ale and his sister will make it through and end up alright. Ale may be a miser, but a wise one(most of the time) at that.