For many people college is one of the most important times of our lives. It is a point in life where the new college student must put away the aspects of their childhood and start the arduous process of learning to be a productive adult. This is a period of our lives that for most represents the first time living apart from the parents that raised you for the past eighteen or so years. All too many films take this experience as a setting for juvenile antics typically involving frat houses, alcohol, drugs and sex. While there is little doubt that some have this type of experience at their university most young people are there to study and most importantly grow. It is reassuring when a film maker decides to take the high road and use the freshman year of college as a setting for different more mature look at youth. One such film is ‘Palo Alto’ by Brad Leong. This is a combination of drama and comedy that effectively combines the two genres in a touching and realistic consideration of the difficulties in growing up and trying to move away from home. This is a film that is a textbook example of why it is important to support independent film. It is here that creative new talent on both sides of the camera get a chance to develop their skills and become the A list directors, writers and actors of the next generation. This was obviously made on a pittance of a budget and more likely than not had a tight shooting schedule. These people did more in the way of quality with next to nothing than many seasoned film makers are able to for a small fortune at their disposal. The film had its initial showings at the notable Austin and Tribeca film festivals and received well deserved critical and audience acclaim. For those out there without the available to festivals like this Image Entertainment has once again stepped up to the plate by securing the DVD distribution rights to the movie. This is one that needs to be seen by anyone who is serious about quality in movies. Forget the sex and drug extravaganzas that all too many college age flicks depend and try something that has real and lasting value.

When you think about what you were doing at 20 it was most likely still a period in your life where there was a certain question as to what you were going to do with the rest of your life. This is not the case with the film maker here, Brad Leong. He was barely this age when he directed and co-wrote this film. At eighteen he already had two short films to his credit; he was born to be behind the camera. If this film is a representation of how this young man begins his career in movies I certainly can’t wait to watch him as he develops his skill and techniques. Now at just over 21 he has his own production company. Some of his stylistic choices show wisdom that many far in advance of his age have not grasped. Since he was already experienced in short films he took a pathway that would provide a natural transition to feature length films. The story here is basically four somewhat separate stories bound together by a central theme, circumstance and setting. In this way Leong could ease into a full length movie. It also teaches how to entwine story lines in a longer film; vital if any writer or director is going to progress in the field. His partner in writing this screenplay was Tony Vallone who worked on Leong’s previous short movie with him. This script has heart. It is comes across as an honest look at a time that is frequently disorienting and unsettling when a young person realizes that the home he sought so long to leave wasn’t all that bad after all. Perhaps one reason for the validity of this story is Leong is not that far away from the age group he represents in the story. In any case no matter what the reason it worked out very well.

As a director Leong demonstrates a skill level far above his contemporaries. With a lot of new directors they seem to feel obligated to used every little trick and technique that they just picked up in film school. Leong has a control of his style that is simply amazing to watch. Leong is a graduate of film school but in his case he seems to have been paying attention to the craft of film instead of the route technical details. He shows an imagination in the way he lights the shots and a real eye for framing a scene so as to give the audience the feel of being in the story. Leong is a subtle director who lets the audience have sufficient time to warm up to the characters and identify with them on an emotional level. Rather than hit the audience over the head with a sledgehammer to make a point Leong has the level of maturity to allow the story to tell itself. He trusts his cast to do what they are there to do; become the characters and relate the story to the viewers. Over the years I have watched the work of a lot of young directors but rarely have seem one so sure of his craft as reflected by the certainty of his style.

The main premise is a group of four friends who are all freshmen in their respective colleges. It is the last day of their Thanksgiving break and they have assembled in their home time for a reunion. Alec (Aaron Ashmore), Nolan (Johnny Lewis), Patrick (Ben Savage) and Ryan (Justin Mentell) had been best friends for most of their childhood and want to have one last prank together. They intend to break into their old high school and steal back an item once confiscated by a teacher. Naturally each of the four is completely different in their outlooks and manner. Patrick is the most thoughtful of the group. Nolan is the shy and retiring member of the group. Ryan is the guy always up for anything and usually playing the fool for the others. Lastly Alec is the frat boy in college coming back to his roots. The awkwardness of Nolan is challenged by the beautiful Jamie (Autumn Reeser). This offers one of the most poignant of the threads in the film and shows some of the best acting offered. Over the course of the film as the stories begin to entwine the young men come to the conclusion that they now have to face the future; there is no living in the past.

This is a rare and wonderfully constructed film. The acting is some of the best that has come around in a long time and every aspect of the movie is an example of how a small budget can be used to the best possible example. Support this film by adding it to your collection but do more than that; watch and enjoy it,