Why isn't 'Garage' more well known?

Denerick

I think its one of the best films I've ever seen. I'd easily have it in my top five. (OK - its a little predictable and the ultimate moral is a little obvious, but I admire the effort and adore the aesthetics of Pat Short and his miserable little life)

Yet nobody I've spoken to has actually watched this. I don't hang around with a load of tabloid reading X factor watching airheads either, so it always astounds me.

Is this film just one of those under the radar types or have I built it up too much inside my own head?

Technocentral

Denerick wrote: »

I think its one of the best films I've ever seen. I'd easily have it in my top five. (OK - its a little predictable and the ultimate moral is a little obvious, but I admire the effort and adore the aesthetics of Pat Short and his miserable little life)

Yet nobody I've spoken to has actually watched this. I don't hang around with a load of tabloid reading X factor watching airheads either, so it always astounds me.

Is this film just one of those under the radar types or have I built it up too much inside my own head?

Excellent film, most people I know saw and liked it.

paudgenator

Saw it years ago...it was a bit too quirky for me...not what I expected, nor my cup of tea.. Was left feeling rather despondent at the end.

johnny_ultimate

It's pretty well known within film circles, TBH.

I'm not best fond of the film, even though I do tend to be quite enamored by slow, considered films of its type. Someone I was talking to recently put it best: it's just like all those other slow, depressing Irish rural dramas, but it's actually pretty well made. I do think Abrahamson as a director is a rare Irish auteur with an admirable control of tone and pace, but the material was just too bog standard for my liking.

Jezek

Have no idea! It is an absolute masterpiece. I watched it as part of a film component of my course, otherwise I would have never stumbled onto it.

Maybe because it's too subtle and understated, that it never captured a mass audience.

Niles

In some ways I found it interesting in that it was a bit different to Pat Short's regular work, which generally doesn't get too serious... but yeh a bit depressing for my liking.

ziedth

I think I'm the only one alive who saw this and didn't like it. I'm not a fan of Short but he was very good in the film to be fair, I guess these kind of slow burners aren't really up my street.

Dempsey

Good film but its a depressing story, not something you'd recommend to everyone imo

Frankie Lee

It is beautifully crafted but the story itself is a bit underwhelming.
I'm more looking forward to What Richard Did which should be out this year sometime.

Mickeroo

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

It's pretty well known within film circles, TBH.

I'm not best fond of the film, even though I do tend to be quite enamored by slow, considered films of its type. Someone I was talking to recently put it best: it's just like all those other slow, depressing Irish rural dramas, but it's actually pretty well made. I do think Abrahamson as a director is a rare Irish auteur with an admirable control of tone and pace, but the material was just too bog standard for my liking.

Speaking as someone who comes from a rural area, I thought it captured the loneliness and isolation a lot of people in rural ireland (particularly single middle aged males) experience perfectly. I can't think of any other Irish film that really tackled this issue before, certainly not one that hit the nail on the head to this extent. not saying I've been through that kind of thing myself but I doubt there's a village in Ireland that doesn't have a Josie of some sort living in it.

johnny_ultimate

Mickeroo wrote: »

Speaking as someone who comes from a rural area, I thought it captured the loneliness and isolation a lot of people in rural ireland (particularly single middle aged males) experience perfectly. I can't think of any other Irish film that really tackled this issue before, certainly not one that hit the nail on the head to this extent. not saying I've been through that kind of thing myself but I doubt there's a village in Ireland that doesn't have a Josie of some sort living in it.

Having had the misfortune great joy of having an Irish film module, I can assure you that the likes of Ballroom of Romance or Poitin quickly sap the enthusiasm for grim rural Irish dramas out of you :pac:

As I said, though, Garage is easily the best of the bunch, albeit as a film I admire rather than actively 'liking'. It does certainly capture a place and type of person. Perhaps it's just that I'm from the Dublin area though - telling that I got more out of Adam & Paul!

OldeCinemaSoz

Denerick wrote: »

I think its one of the best films I've ever seen. I'd easily have it in my top five.

So, what's your other top four?

Denerick

OldeCinemaSoz wrote: »

So, what's your other top four?

In no particular order:

1) The Lives of Others

2) La Haine

3) True Grit (My favourite Coen film)

4) Garage

5) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

May change depending on mood.

OldeCinemaSoz

Denerick wrote: »

In no particular order:

1) The Lives of Others

2) La Haine

3) True Grit (My favourite Coen film)

4) Garage

5) One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

May change depending on mood.

Nice selection.

I've still to see one of those.

Denerick

OldeCinemaSoz wrote: »

Nice selection.

I've still to see one of those.

I may need to take La Haine out though - it has been years since I saw it and I think it mightn't have aged well. I'd probably throw something more unconventional in there nowadays, something like Rear Window or maybe even Children of Men (A much under-rated flick)

Kinski

Garage is a very good little film. Drags a bit in the middle, but it's mostly well-scripted, with an affecting central performance from Shortt. Head and shoulders above most of the crap that gets made here (but not a patch on Steve McQueen's superb Hunger).