Review of Stand Clear of the Closing Doors (2014) by Francisco E. P — 10 Aug 2015

Sam Fleischner's film works so amazingly well because he limits the scope of vision down to three of the film's characters: The over-worked, desperate immigrant mother who is just barely keeping things together, the normal teenage daughter who is dealing with her own needs to fit and, most importantly, the son and the younger brother who is limited within his own world of thought caused by Autism or most likely Asperger's Syndrome.

As dark as the film sometimes becomes, there is this magically gift of an acute and highly intelligent "world" in which Ricky must attempt to navigate as he becomes lost in the harsh realities of reality. Essentially Ricky is stuck in the NYC subway system. His mind races to understand, explore and interact with this accidental adventure. At times scary, unsettling and surprisingly hopeful. It is a powerful and magical adventure.

Most impressive is how well Fleischner and his actors are able to establish these three characters so fully and so casually.

When the film reaches it's conclusion it made me think of "Mad Max Fury Road" -- which offered a grim pulsating and unrelenting apocalyptic race with very little in the way of a "pay-off" ...while "Stand Clear" is a far different kind of film -- it does offer an amazing ride through what sometimes feels "apocalyptic" but when Fleischner's ride comes to it's end. There is a potent pay-off for the viewer.

This is an amazing little film.