Mikemayalwaysbewandering,butyou’dhardlycallhimamanonthemove.Hisstampinggroundismodest,thestripofsuburbiabetweenhismom’shouseinNewJerseyandthepizzaplacewhereheworks.Mike’snogreatconversationalistandisn’tbigondirectioneither,preferringtoletthingshappenthanmakingthemhappenhimself.Feedinganeighbour’sdog,bumpingintoafriend,catchingahockeygame:alljustdifferentreasonstotrudgealongthesamewintrystreets,unhurried,ungainly,alone.
Oneday,opportunityknocks.MikebumpsintohisoldschoolfriendMark,whoasksMiketotakeoverhiswalkingtourjobandPhiladelphiaapartmentduringhistriptoPoland.Achangeofseason,achangeofscene,achangeoffortune?ThestreetsMikenowwandersthrougharedifferentandthesunisshining,butotherwiseit’sthesameoldstory:newpeopleandnewencounters,lacedwiththeusualawkwardnessandinertia.TedFendt’scharming35mmminiatureisnotquiteacomedy,norquiteadrama,butratheramoraltale:alessononhowanythingthatfallsintoyourlapcanjustaseasilyfalloutofitagain.Wecanchangeourcontext,butwecan’tchangeourselves.berlinale2016
