Culture > Reviews

Urbania (Released in 2000; DVD 2001.) -- A Lavender Salon Review
Reviewed by John Olski.
Posted August 26, 2003

Urbania is a dark drama peppered with vignettes based on urban legends -- outrageous, second-hand tales we're all tempted to repeat. Whether startling, sultry or silly, Urbania's urban legends lighten a story that occurs largely at night, in a New York City the bureau of tourism probably wouldn't want you to see.

Actor Dan Futterman is the movie's glue. Known for roles in The Birdcage and TV's Judging Amy and Will & Grace, Futterman has the personal intensity and comedic charm needed for the film.

Urbania follows Charlie, a gay man who suddenly finds himself alone in a small apartment. Something has happened, some kind of estrangement has occurred. Recently transferred to a work shift that fosters insomnia, Charlie walks the city with a notion of putting his life back together, searching for a man he believes is key to the process.

Five men figure prominently in Charlie's story: a former lover and domestic partner; an ill friend in love with Charlie; a straight bartender with an urban legend to recount; a self-centered pickup; and the mystery man -- perhaps a lust object, and certainly the key to Charlie's own desire for an urban legend.

Ambiguity drives Urbania. Charlie's motives and mental stability remain uncertain until the end, while flashback scenes and brief, hand-held camera shots offer just enough visual material to keep viewers guessing.

Urbania sparked a good conversation among Lavender Salon members. As with a mystery, earlier scenes could be re-evaluated in light of later material. Film director Jon Shear and writer Daniel Reitz also included many details of staging and dialog that weren't obvious on a first viewing. For that reason, as well as for Dan Futterman's performance, Urbania is worth a repeat look.

Watching Urbania alone, I was immediately captivated by the hip, urban sensibility of the production: the initial montage, the fragments of dialog. As a group, the Lavender Salon settled into the movie more slowly: members chuckled and commented on some of the urban legend material, but were eventually drawn into the main character's quest.

Urbania was well received by Lavender Salon members. Factoring in perfect weather and a potluck picnic, it may have been one of the better dates some of us single guys have been on recently. :)

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