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Q: I have to tell you that lived in Queens for almost 20 years; I even went to Queens College, not far from Shea Stadium and didn’t know the Iron Triangle existed. How did you know about it? You must have had a car repaired!

A: In fact, my cinematographer, Michael Simmonds, had to get his car fixed when I was editing Man Push Cart and he knew I would love this location. I did. That day I knew I would make my next film there.

Q: It was a very gritty, New York film but it could have been filmed anywhere. Although we usually think of kids who fall between the cracks living in a 3rd world environment.  Why New York?

A: Because the location really is in New York. Also to help erase ideas of entitlement and the brainwashing of colonialism that spur on false classifications such as “3rd world.” Categories like 3rd and 1st world, or East and West, or the “Orient” were shrewdly created in order for one to exploit the other, economically, mentally, and imaginatively.

Q: Obviously this wasn’t a set. If it was, it would have been prohibitively expensive to create! As a filmmaker myself, I have to ask…..How did you get the required releases? I can’t imagine the “chop shop” owners would want to participate!

A: I spent over one and a half years in the location, so they all came to know and trust me. We became friends. As you can sense in the film, despite the rough and dangerous aspects of the junkyards, there is also a real sense of community and friendship.

Q: Please tell me that Ale is an aberration. That there isn’t an assemblage of Ale’s and his sister living in Queens like that!

A: I am sorry I can’t say that.

Q: How did you cast the role of Ale? Alejandro Polanco was just magnificent! A real find! Exactly how old is he?

A: Alejandro was twelve when we shot the film. We found him after an exhaustive six month search, where we saw thousands of kids. I found Ale in a public school in lower Manhattan. Isamar attended the same school, and I later learned they were friends already. Isamar had stood up for Ale’s real sister when she was being picked on one day in school, so Ale already had a sense of responsibility and love towards her.

Q: Has he accompanied you to any of the festivals? How is he handling the notoriety?

A: Alejandro, his mom and sister were in Cannes, where the film received a standing ovation, and Alejandro was hugged and kissed by the master, Abbas Kiarostami. Ale was very cool about it, and moments later asked his usual question of the trip: “can we go to the pool now?”

Q: The film had its world premiere at Cannes in May 2007 and made its North American Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. Any distribution deals in the works?

A: We are closing deals now for US theatrical and several other European territories. The response has been wonderful.

Q: After seeing Chop Shop, I can’t wait to view Man Push Cart. Where can I get a copy??

A: Man Push Cart was released theatrically in 2006. Koch Lorber released a wonderful DVD on Oct 9 of this year and it is available for purchase and rental now. I have been told it makes the perfect stocking stuffer!

Chop Shop

USA, 2007, 84 min, 35 MM
US Premiere

DIR: Ramin Bahrani
SCR: Ramin Bahrani, Bahareh Azimi
PROD: Jeb Brody, Marc Turtletaub, Lisa Muskat
DP: Michael Simmonds
ED: Ramin Bahrani
PROD DES: Richard Wright
EXEC PROD: Peter Saraf
MUS: M. Lo
CAST: Alejandro Polanco, Isamar Gonzales, Rob Sowulski, Carlos Zapata, Ahmad Razvi

Combining the powers of observance and understatement, director Ramin Bahrani is able to render an emotional tale of two siblings who struggle to stay together and a get their own little piece of the American dream.

Small in stature but huge in ambition, 12-year-old Dominican orphan Alejandro works every angle in his struggle to support himself and his older sister. He lives and works in an auto-body repair shop in a sprawling junkyard on the outskirts of Queens, New York. CHOP SHOP is a portrait of a young boy navigating his way through a chaotic adult world. Set in a stunning and unique location, it is subtle and simple, but tells a profound story about the people who live, work, and dream there.

With its terrific performances from both Alejandro Polanco (a first-time actor found in a public school in Manhattan) and Isamar Gonzales, CHOP SHOP is a thoughtful, evocative portrayal of family, longing and the chaotic nature of life. Bahrani firmly establishes himself as a bright light in cinema and a passionately inventive filmmaker.

Screening Times:

Sunday, November 4th 6:30pm
ArcLight Theatre 11

Tuesday, November 6th 12:30pm
ArcLight Theatre 11

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