IMDB Link:
The Parking Lot Movie
Directed By:
Meghan Eckman
Summing It Up:
This documentary is about a paid-parking lot in Charlottesville, Virginia and the people who have worked there over the years.
Quick Thoughts:
I was looking for something interesting on Netflix Instant the other night, and I came across The Parking Lot Movie under the "New Additions" section. To be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect, but seeing as the film was only a little over an hour long, I figured what the hell, I'll give it a shot. Ultimately, I'm glad that I did.
While the subject matter might sound a little boring, and maybe even a bit weird, at first, the film is actually very engaging. Anyone who has worked in a niche job in today's service-oriented society probably already knows that you meet a lot of strange and interesting people while doing it. Some of them are your co-workers, and some of them are the customers. This documentary does a great job at summing the experience up.
Now, I've never worked at a parking lot, but I washed dishes for several years, and then I worked retail for almost 10 years, so I was able to relate to the idea of people working a job that has nothing to do with their creative or professional interests; one that is usually only temporary, but for some, becomes a way of life. I can also relate to the idea of having to deal with crazy and/or rude people who look down on what you do for a living and aren't afraid to treat you like crap because of it.
The Parking Lot Movie does a great job capturing these things, and it also makes you feel a strange kind of bond with the people who have worked at the lot over the years. You get to see some candid exchanges between the employees and the customers, and you get several glimpses into the lives of the main characters, finding out the role that the job has played in their lives.
This is a bit inspirational in some ways, as we get to hear the people talk about how they are happy with their place in life. However, it's also a bit sad at times, because we realize that, in some cases, these people really aren't happy with what they do; mostly because of the way they are treated. There's definitely some pent up anger there, and while we do see them acting upon some it (kicking cars, yelling, talking shit), it's pretty obvious that some of the employees carry a lot of emotional baggage with them, and under the surface, there is a frustration with society.
In the end, this is one of the more interesting documentaries that I've seen recently. It's certainly not my favorite (that honor still goes to The King Of Kong), but I can definitely recommend it to you all; especially since it's a quick watch via Netflix.
Verdict:




3 1/2 out of 5