$9,500 seems like a lot of money, unless you’re making a movie with it, which is exactly what one-man film crew Pascal Santschi did with his début effort, The Arriviste; a black comedy about a guy whose brother causes him more trouble in death than he ever did in life.
The film’s protagonist, Nick Laumer (Eamon Speer), is content to live his life worry free, finishing out the last few days of his probation, that is, until he gets a letter from his brother, William, and a visit from a man posing as a detective looking for Nick’s delinquent brother.
Things get complicated fast when a nurse of questionable character, a real detective chasing after a book deal, a shady life insurance rep, a Jesus looking hobo named Joseph (Raymond Turturro), and William’s severed hand all come into play. It’s not easy to keep this complicated plot straight, but it doesn’t really matter as the real joy in this classic crime-gone-wrong story is watching it take most of its characters down with it.
The Arriviste has its share of problems, but when you consider what went into the production, they seem easier to forgive. Santschi not only performed every task behind the camera, but he did it shooting guerilla style on the streets and in the subways of New York all while shooting on 35mm film. That alone is a task worthy of note.
Apart from Raymond Turturro, the cast is unknowns with few credits to their name. This is noticeable in many of the performances, but there’s no one here who should hang up their acting hat. The dialogue is all ADR but the dubbing is not as annoying as it is in other low-budget features I’ve seen.
The score, also composed by Santschi, plays in an off-beat jazzy style that works with as many of the film’s scenes as it doesn’t, which runs the risk of taking the viewer out of the scene instead of immersing them in it.
As with many films of this sort, it’s easy to criticise it for its shortcomings, but when put into perspective, it’s clear that there is a real artist at work that is making the most of his budget and his surroundings.
Director: Pascal Santschi
Writer: Pascal Santschi
Cast: Eamon Speer, Mark Fernandes, Gary Devirgilio
Runtime: 93 minutes
Country: USA
Film Rating: 
