Quiet City doesn’t have much ambition to move us, maybe because of the slackerdom it represents. Unlike Dance Party, USA, which seemed to be "about something", Quiet City is really never about anything, making it all the more pertinent.
Here's where I drop a buzz word: mumblecore. Quiet City is part of the American independent film movement dubbed mumblecore. One of the trademarks is the minimalistic nature of the productions. Katz is a master of this with his deliberate lack of momentum and intimate, but perfectly framed hand-held shooting. He lets the audience settle into the scenes without forcing the potential romance blossoming between Charlie and Jamie high schoolers onto the viewer.
What separates Katz from some of the drearier mumblecore productions (yes, you, The Puffy Chair) is the feeling that in his saying nothing, Katz is saying everything that needs to be said. Even more so than Four Eyed Monsters, Katz's film captures the spirit of a generation — one struggling to find its voice while surrounded by all the communication technology in the world.
Quiet City and Dance Party, USA, directed by Aaron Katz, is available on DVD Tuesday, January 28, 2008.
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