Cinema Poetry 7 - Paranoid Park

Cinema Poetry is a video blog devoted to bringing you some of the most poetic scenes and sequences in the history of cinema. Just after midnight on the morning of September 17, 2006, young skateboarder Alex accidentally becomes involved in a brutal incident that leaves a man dead and leaves Alex in a state of desperation. He rushes back to the house of a friend, where he tries to sift through his options. At first filmmaker Gus Van Sant explores Alex's mental desperation through an auditory thought collage, which plays in part at the start of this clip. But this soon gives way to a series of arresting visual images, shot through with symbolism. As Alex perceives his own life suddenly restricted to several tiny and terrible outcomes, the screen is filled with shots of skateboarders gliding back and forth down long tunnels. Within these images, freedom is extolled but is also suddenly disappearing, the present is slowing to the pace of memory, and the the light at the end of the tunnel is now a web of bars. The film is Paranoid Park, and here is one of its astonishing moments.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Paranoid
• Park
• Gus
• Van
• Sant

[nickjonasnumbe1lover]

what did this scene mean what did it come after in the movie?

[amt253]

No spoilers. If I told you, I'd ruin the film. You should see it.

[mocc]

If this fim has incredible images, is thanks to Christopher Doyle, his cinematographer. He is GOD!

[thejamesdolce]

incredible film. seriously. dont mistaken it for a teen one based on the plot or the characters. its really really good.

[jkhgsdhgdhgjklsdhfgj]

seems like the water is coming from his face, not melting, but something else. it´s one of the most terrible and beautiful scenes I´ve ever seen.

thank you christopher, thank you gus...

this is real big time cinema, celebrate it.

[jhillst]

Coolest shower scene since Psycho.

[ZehWishbone]

This scene is probably the best scene in the whole movie. It matches the book very well!

[oliviariver]

Gabee is soo hot! Hee should get someone betterr than Taylorr. Thatt showerr scenee is really...odd...

[Giveemhellkid2424]

I love this movie, this scene in particular. I always thought it was one of the most poetic scenes ive ever seen, glad someone agrees :]

[fobXruulzz]

Gabe Nevins is so hot! <3