There's always something so comforting about returning to quaint, little, low-budget Indies from the UK or Ireland, I can't describe it... Despite the cinematic spectacle of gargantuan Hollywood blockbusters (flaunting super pristine, egregiously large production values with heavy corporate involvement / oversight), I believe there are endearingly charming quirks to be appreciated in the imperfections, borne from filmmakers lovingly crafting a tale with limited resources at their disposal - which I continually find myself preferring, personally.
If anything, the issues stemming from ambitious artistic creativity, warring against the restrictive confines of reality often ground the narrative in a feeling of authenticity that's seldom able to be replicated by high end production studios, specifically because prestigious projects - in their vain attempts to capture moments faultlessly (& in an unconvincingly American way) - deprive the majority of scenes exactly what makes them so relatable to us; their flaws.
"Parked" is a great example of this, proving my point (hence the verbose anecdote, preceding); stripped back, devoid of the US glitz & glamour we've typically grown accustomed to as audiences, focusing entirely on the substance of character - as opposed to superficial style, artificially rendered to usually compensate for a lack of it. No, rather than indulge in that increasingly tedious shallowness I've alluded to, the movie's just a really well told story - indeed, basic, yet undeniably effective - unfolding beautifully in a poignant, organically developing, bittersweet tale, balancing bleakness with a profound sense of hopefulness (possessing layers of depth, warmth & a sincerity in its depiction of humanity, I couldn't help but admire), making for an extremely rewarding viewing experience - due to how crushingly honest everything seems, from beginning to end.
Plus, Colin Morgan & Colm Meaney are both notably incredible here (Morgan in particular, arguably delivering one of the most devastating performances I've ever seen him give in his career - embodying a deeply tragic figure "Cathal", a homeless drug addict with a heart of gold - keeping "Fred", the protagonist, company as they take refuge in a car park by the ocean, using their vehicles as shelter whilst they search for properties to live in; his tortured mind tragically yearning for a place to call home, metaphorically & literally, incapable of finding his idea of solace in the world, nor reconciling with the events of the past, leading to a wrenching sense of separation; visualised through a nuanced, powerful imagining brought to the screen under the watchful eye of excellent director Darragh Byrne - however, what a double act), impressively capitalising off of the opportunity given by writer Ciaran Creagh (constructing such a rich emotional landscape for them to play in), bringing his script to life from the page, brilliantly.
Hence, although miniscule, it's poetically mighty - packing a punch, many bigger blockbusters fail to ever make.
Available on Amazon Prime in England. Definitely recommend & well worth your time, if you have it.
