Film Journal 2023: Somewhere In Queens
Directed by Ray Romano
It’s not unusual to talk about right time, right place when it comes to viewing film. This is the subjective side of film critique, and I think its fair to say this carries more weight than any objective measure. True objectivity is, after all, something of a fallacy, and most objective critique remains in the realm of social construct.
If it’s true, and time and place can play a central role in informing a given experience with film, the fact that the ending to Romano’s directorial debut hit me like a ton of bricks probably reveals more about my life in this present moment than it does about the film itself. I needed to hear its affirming message,
The film certainly earns the emotional beats however, soaked as it is in Romanos penchant dry humor. He smartly allows the film enough breathing space for the whole cast to develop as fully fleshed out characters, each with their own distinct personalities. The strength of the film is in the way these different characters come together, clashing at points and complimenting at others. It offers an intimate and endearing portrait of famijy, exploring generational dynamics, the role of tradition, trauma, expectations, healing, forgiveness. Within that we get a film that astutely navigates the simple ebb and flow of every day life, where small things become big and big things are made small within the context of familial connection. From this comes these striking redemptive moments within the individual characters, each traversing their own paths through these shared spaces.
Just don’t be surprised if your right time, right place elicits some necessary tears.
The Stories of my Life 