One Hour Photo
Directed by Mark Romanek
Starring: Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan, Dylan Smith,
Eric La Salle.
One Hour Photo is about a ‘One Hour Photo’ lab employee, Seymour Parish (Robin Williams), who takes an excessive interest in his work and customers, and in particular the ‘picture perfect’ Yorkin family, whose snapshots he has been developing for eleven years. Nine year old Jake Yorkin, son of Will and Nina, calls him “Sy the photo guy”. But neither Sy nor the Yorkin family are as they first appear.
Photography is an obvious theme and photographically this film never misses a beat. Every frame is a “snap shot”, a term, we are told, was first used in 1808 in reference to hurried hunting shots. The film uses layer upon layer of “snapshot” image to develop a menacing complexity of human behaviours and motivations which intensifies as cracks begin to appear between the layers.
Will accuses Nina of carelessness, regarding the cost of maintaining their ‘idyllic’ consumerist lifestyle and she retaliates with the accusation of emotional neglect, claiming its not about money, but something else. Jake cringes and withdraws into the background.
Beyond the earthy tones of Yorkins ‘Country Road’ abode is the agora (Sav-Mart), defined in icy blues and grays. It is here that Sy works and the other characters visit. It is in the corridors of the hyper-mart that in a dream Sy appears, ‘Lector’ like, and a brilliant vermilion blood spills out onto the pristine surrounds.
Seymour Parish is a complex character. He embodies much, if not all, that is human. His portrayal is pivotal to this film.
One Hour Photo can intrigue and annoy but there is no doubt it is a film executed with skill and precision.
Lou Crow
