Talking to Strangers (1988) Reviews

• Worth a look

  openeyes2004-06-29

  "Talking to Strangers" is a unique film consisting of nine incidents each told in a single continuous take on a single roll of film. The only link between the segments is the presence of actor Ken Gruz, a somewhat slight but nonetheless likable performer. Technically-speaking, this low-budget film shot in Baltimore, Maryland, is nothing short of a tour de force. Writer/Director Rob Tregenza moves his camera with smooth and assured inventiveness. However, the narrative structure, and I use that term loosely, leaves something to be desired. If there is a thematic or narrative connection between the individuals segments, I must confess it was completely lost on me. That said, some of the segments were very interesting. My favorite was the scene between Ken Gruz and a priest played by Henry Strozier. However, some of the segments reeked of self- indulgence for its own sake, particularly the final one with Mr. Gruz painting a studio. Still I must give this film its due as a stylistic precursor to what Richard Linklater later accomplished more successfully in "Slacker."