The New Year Parade

Although The New Year Parade isn't a documentary, debut director Tom Quinn blurs the lines with a handheld camera, intimate close-ups, and cinema vérité scenes of street life as he examines a disintegrating Irish-American family amidst the subculture of the annual Mummers Parade in Philadelphia. The story revolves around 16-year-old Kat (Jennifer-Lynn Welsh) and 21-year-old Jack (Greg Lyons), whose working-class parents, Mike and Lisa (Andrew Conway and MaryAnn McDonald) have just separated. On top of the emotional chaos resulting from the familial strife, Jack is also feeling dejected after the South Philadelphia String Band he's part of (and Mike is captain of) places 13th in the parade. The discomfort extends to rehearsals, where Jack disagrees with his father's ideas for the next season and considers joining a rival group. Meanwhile Kat's situation at school spirals downward because she's unable to leave her feelings at home. As a 26-year marriage heads toward divorce, the kids navigate relationships of their own—Mike with a sympathetic hairstylist and Kate with a hockey player pressuring her about having sex. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Slamdance, this is highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a “making-of” featurette, interviews with children of divorce, deleted scenes, and an essay by critic Steven Rea. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a fine film.] (K. Fennessy)