Garage (2008) Movie Information:

Garage (2008) Directed by: Leonard Abrahamson Garage (2008) Written by: Mark O'Halloran Garage (2008) Cast: Pat Shortt, Anne-Marie Duff, Conor Ryan, John Keogh, Don Wycherley, Andrew Bennett, Denis Conway, George Costigan, Tom Hickey, Una Kavanagh, Jason Nelligan

Garage (2008) U.S. Distributor: Not available at this time Garage (2008) U.K. Distributor: Soda Pictures

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Garage (2008) Synopsis:

Josie (Shortt) works in a run-down garage on the outskirts of a small Irish town. He's a bit slow, but obsessively organised enough to do his job well. With a rise in passing trade, his boss (Keogh) hires the 15-year-old David (Ryan) to work with him. Josie's alienated by the guys in the local pub, so he's happy to have some friendly company, and doesn't see any harm in offering David a beer after work. He also senses a spark of interest in the local shop clerk (Duff). But Josie's perceptions aren't terribly accurate.

Garage (2008) Movie Review:

From the makers of the understated comedy Adam & Paul, this even darker film is a beautifully observed character study, with a fine central performance and a haunting series of small events.

Josie (Shortt) works in a run-down garage on the outskirts of a small Irish town. He's a bit slow, but obsessively organised enough to do his job well. With a rise in passing trade, his boss (Keogh) hires the 15-year-old David (Ryan) to work with him. Josie's alienated by the guys in the local pub, so he's happy to have some friendly company, and doesn't see any harm in offering David a beer after work. He also senses a spark of interest in the local shop clerk (Duff). But Josie's perceptions aren't terribly accurate.

Abrahamson tells this story with a slice-of-life approach so gentle that we begin to wonder if anything momentous will happen at all. Yet it's thoroughly engaging; we feel for Josie as struggles to figure out his place in this community. As we get to know him, we begin to see his weaknesses, and we realise that it's his innocence and naiveté that are likely to cause problems. Shortt plays this to perfection, with a finely detailed performance that never feels remotely obvious.

It's in Josie's interaction with a number of people that the story begins to take shape. Watching him treat everyone the same, whether they're helpful or cruel, old or young, is fascinating. And it's captured with a muted energy by the grey-toned cinematography and moody editing. Much of the film is completely still, and yet all kinds of things are going on in the frame.

Can Josie connect with anyone emotionally? Maybe not, but he tries. Does He realise that his life is going nowhere? Probably, and yet he continues with a sense of pride in his work and a dedication even to the pointless details. Does he realise that he has crossed some significant boundaries with the people he cares about? Definitely, but not quite in time to adjust his behaviour. It's a surprisingly complex film that allows us to identify with an unusual man at the point where his life changes forever.

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Garage (2008) review written by: Rich Cline