''Choking Man'' is a 2006 drama film, written and directed by

Steve Barron Steven Barron (born 4 May 1956) is an Irish-British filmmaker and music video director. Among the music videos he has directed are "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson, " Burning Up (Madonna song), Burnin Up" by Madonna, "Summer of '69" and "Run t ...

. The film stars Octavio Gómez Berríos and

Eugenia Yuan Eugenia Yuan is an American actress and former rhythmic gymnast who has won a Hong Kong Film Award. Early life On January 22, 1976, Yuan was born in Inglewood, California, Inglewood, Los Angeles county, California. Yuan's mother is Cheng Pei ...

Synopsis

''Choking Man'' is an intense blend of psychological drama and

magical realism Magical realism, magic realism, or marvelous realism is a style or genre of fiction and art that presents a realistic view of the world while incorporating magical elements, often blurring the lines between speculation and reality. ''Magical rea ...

that encapsulates the contemporary immigrant experience in America. Jorge (Octavio Gómez Berríos) is a morbidly shy Ecuadorian dishwasher toiling away in a shabby diner in

Jamaica, Queens Jamaica is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It has a popular large commercial and retail area, though part of the neighborhood is also residential. Jamaica is bordered by Hollis, St Albans, and Cambria Heights to the ea ...

run by Rick (

Mandy Patinkin Mandel "Mandy" Bruce Patinkin (; born November 30, 1952) is an American actor and singer, known for his work in musical theatre, television, and film. As a critically acclaimed Broadway (theatre), Broadway performer he has collaborated with Step ...

). He works all day long in the shadow of the ever-present Heimlich maneuver instruction poster which hangs in the diner kitchen. From his solitary kitchen corner, Jorge gropes mutely for a bond with Amy (Eugenia Yuan), the newly hired Chinese waitress and even though she tries to reciprocate, the gulf that separates them may be too large. On the job he is continually tormented by his coworker Jerry ( Aaron Paul) and at home in his Harlem boarding house, under the psychological control of his late uncle, who was truly like a father to him. His uncle was described as being the only caring person in Jorge's life. He battles his inner demons. Set in the vicinity of JFK airport, the most culturally diverse neighborhood in the world, Choking Man captures the feeling of claustrophobia some newcomers to America experience as they struggle to find a place and purpose in this strange land.

Reception

''Choking Man'' had a mixed reception by critics.

Soundtrack

The score to ''Choking Man'' was composed by Nico Muhly.

Awards

*Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You Award, 16th Annual

Gotham Awards The Gotham Awards () are American film awards, presented annually to the makers of independent films at a ceremony in New York City, the city first nicknamed "Gotham" by native son Washington Irving, in an issue of ''Salmagundi'', published on ...

, 2006 *Best Director, Best Newcomers Octavio Gómez Berríos & Eugenia Yuan, Best Soundtrack Nico Muhly, Special Jury Award, Ibiza International Film Festival, 2007

References

External links

* * *eFilmCritic.co
interview
with Steve Barron on "Choking Man." {{DEFAULTSORT:Choking Man 2006 films 2000s Spanish-language films 2006 drama films 2006 independent films American drama films American independent films Films directed by Steve Barron Films scored by Nico Muhly Films set in Queens, New York Films about immigration to the United States 2000s English-language films 2000s American films English-language independent films