Niceland (Population. 1.000.002) (2004)

 

Here’s a film that jumped out at me when I first perused PC’s filmography; the title caught my eye.  Niceland’s own IMDb page told me virtually nothing, and I didn’t recognize any of the other actors in it, but my interest was still piqued.  Well, I’ve just managed to track it down, and I’d like to report that this film is a marvelous, bittersweet gem.

 

Jed is a young man looking for an anchor.  For reasons far too indie to explain succinctly, he desperately needs to discover the purpose of life.  After chasing a few false leads, he happens upon Max, a man who lives in a junkyard and claims to know the answer.  Jed begs to move in, and Max offers to reveal his secret knowledge if Jed will help him with a problem of his own.

 

PC plays John, Jed’s father.  A bored middle-aged worker ant, John is shaken out of his humdrum acquiescence by Jed’s quest.  Slowly, John begins an exploration of his own.  He is by turns despairing, hopeful, and erratic along the way, and his searching brings him closer to his son.

 

This is a really lovely performance.  PC beautifully plays a man gently sliding into an existential crisis.  There’s an excellent scene that shows his growing awareness of his discontentment, and he has a breakdown later in the film that’s so much milder and softer than that sort of scene usually is, but it’s done to great effect.

 

I really enjoyed the film.  It’s offbeat and sad, but with just enough embers of hope to keep your spirits up.  It reminds me a little of a bleaker Lars and the Real Girl, in that a handful of lost, lonely people are just trying to muddle through the best they can.

 

Accent Watch

 

Okay, so the film is written and directed by Icelanders, but the most of the cast members are British.  PC is one of several to use a Scottish accent.

 

Recommend?

 

In General – Yes.  Be warned that it’s a little slow, and it’s sad in places, but the story is compelling and the central performances are wonderful.  Really liked it.

 

PC-wise – Yes.  PC is nicely understated, bringing this character to life in a quiet, very engaging way.

 

Warnings

 

Drinking, brief swearing, and thematic elements.