A New York Story
A New York Story
Much like the works of Whit Stillman and Woody Allen, A New York story also centers on love transcending class boundaries. New York still imparts a magical charm intermingled with young lovers roaming cities in different seasons. During my teenage years, it was an appealing romantic aesthetic but in the last couple of years, it doesn’t seem to inspire a sense of novelty or maturity. Nevertheless, it is quite appropriate for the mood and these characters as they advance towards one another across social class barriers. 2024
Directed by: Fiona Robert
Screenplay by: Fiona Robert, Sofia Robert
Starring: Fiona Robert, Paul Karmiryan
A frequent complaint about romantic thematics in movies and drama series based in New York is the cliché “New York is the real third character in the movie or show.” Fiona and Sofia Robert definitely have the best interest of their artists so I appreciate A New York Story’s contrasting quality which this time allows the Robert sisters A New York Story to look more at the dark side of the city than its bright side.
In fact, it is from the perspective of Logan Miller who plays the lead role of Will Caffrey that we are first introduced to this world. I use the word ‘naturally’ because he is the leading actor among the cast, kicks off the film with the strongest star power, and certainly smiles a lot. It is quite fascinating how self-centered and arrogant these super massive upper class barbarians turn out to be – unsophisticated and crude yet vastly educated and keen to provide insight on nearly anything.
Will Cafrey is among them. After some social function where Will and Annabel (Fiona Robert) and other friends featured, they come to the lenses of Theo (Paul Karmiryan) not as a tabloid photographer but an artist. Will and Theo say how brilliant New York was because there are people like him who helped build and form it, but now they do not stand a chance. Will suggests taking him to a posh apartment of some rich people. Theo’s been quite courteous but is obviously out of sorts in the company of rich friends who are all looking down on him and he seems to be a misfit in their world.
Annabel and Will and their friends have the most boring lives ever. The men go out to some country club and pretend to golf or gossip. While the women go out for lunch and pretend to eat or gossip. Then later in the night they all come over to one of their apartments and sit on sofas with some drink and talk about how great their lives are. Most people would be bored but these are not most people, they have never had to do anything.
Most of this group of socialites come from generational wealth, think the Vanderbilts. Annabel is a little bit different, her father was a working class actor and then became a Tony winner. She is one generation removed but still knows that the time when New York City used to be a friendly word towards artists. That time she used to help him out as an actress as well. But when you are born rich and famous all you have to do is wait for someone in the family to call you for a play to perform.
There is an early event that I will not want to reveal because it comes as a surprise and helps show Annabel the contrast between her wealthy friends who are not friends and have no feelings, and a man named Theo, whom she had just met and who is able to understand her and later help her.
A New York Story depicts a romance, but a romance about being a bored elitist who lives in New York City. It’s very slow, the monologues are arguably too self-indulgent, but I felt very engaged in Annabel’s predicament. She understands the privileges that being part of the New York elite circle has, but at what price?
I would get excited during each of the edits when Annabel went away from her rich socialite parties only to look for Theo. There are so many moments that Annabel and Theo share which are humorous that it’s quite easy to relate to them. It’s a romantic drama with a bit of a twist. It’s not really about money but the ethical implications of money.
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- Genre: Drama
- Country: United States
- Director: Fiona Robert
- Cast: Fiona Robert, Sophia Robert, Paul Karmiryan
