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New York City. Post-9/11. We're in a state of heightened alert... A strange old man appears in one of the city's most magnificent architectural halls carrying a mysterious book. It's evident he's not there on regular business, rather he's examining the structure, studying it's every nook and cranny. The old man is immediately accosted by two patriotic security guards, who make it their mission to bring him to justice. But is he a terrorist? Is he just a freak? As they escort him to their home base, it becomes clear that the security guards aren't certain. The old man tells them the tale of the Park Row building, a turn of the century skyscraper and one of the early predecessors of the Twin Towers. Will the guards be drawn in by his passion, or stick to their fear-based mission?
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DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
"IT SEEMED TO NEED DOING BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE."
New York architecture has always held a fascination for me: the bustling streets, glittering towers, the stoic edifices built to motivate and inspire both tourists and denizens alike. Coming to New York as a transplant, I too have always admired the myriad forms of architecture present here. What also struck me was the blatantly visible security infrastructureembedded in and around these buildings. No matter how marvelous, how stately these structures are, the constant presence of barriers, cameras and armed guards pervades. In thispost-9/11 environment, our ability to enjoy these places is hindered. We rarely get a chance to enter, lift up our heads and take it all in. Nowadays, we’re forced watch our backs.
So I was intrigued when I stumbled upon Jonathan Lethem's short fiction. The main character is so invested in his pastime of “taking in” these buildings, that he lives outside of the mainstream, outside of reality. It's a state we could all stand to be in someday: becoming so enchanted with a thing that the whole of our being is engulfed by it. In the story, his enjoyment is rudely interrupted by two overzealous security guards, who of course, are just doing their jobs. They realize that he's not exactly a terrorist, but their duties require them to take him in. We watch as they struggle with their choice. Do they crush his hopes and his dreams? Do they bring him to justice? Or do they concede that he might not be a threat, that he might even teach them a thing or two? With the current state of things, I think that's an important decision. Do we cringe under the weight of constant scrutiny and surveillance or do we look up and admire the world around us. In making this film, I hoped to get closer to the answer.
I knew it had to be done, before anything else.
Gil Seltzer
January 2008
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