CHOKING MAN

Director:
Steven Barron

Producers:
Joshua Zeman
Zachary Mortensen
Steve Barron

Starring:
Aaron Paul
Octavio Gomez Berrios
Eugenia Juan
Mandy Patinkin

Steve Barron’s intimate indie drama unfolds in a bustling Queens diner where cultures and dreams collide. At its center is Jorge, a pathologically shy Ecuadorean dishwasher whose inner turmoil manifests in vivid animated sequences that punctuate the narrative. When Jorge develops feelings for Amy, a kind Chinese-American waitress, his carefully constructed isolation begins to crack. Set against the backdrop of America’s most linguistically diverse borough, the film captures the quiet desperation and unexpected connections among the diner’s eclectic staff—from the Greek-American owner Rick to Jorge’s aggressive co-worker Jerry. As Jorge struggles to find his voice and place in this microcosm of immigrant America, the “Choking Victim” poster hanging above his sink takes on both literal and metaphorical significance. Barron’s film is a haunting meditation on alienation, human connection, and the possibility of heroism in the most ordinary of settings.