by Dan Berman (Guest Critic)

Let’s talk about undiscovered filmmaking treasures like this extraordinary story about a family who just moved from the big city. Directed by John O’Brien the film takes you on a journey through friendship, emotional pain, and the realization that in the simplest ways of living can sometimes be just as exciting as living among the masses.

O’Brien introduces you to George Lyford a simple country man who lives and breathes through his work on the country back roads of Connecticut, Massachusetts. Lyford, enjoys his everyday schedule of mowing lawns, fixing the neighbors porch or making sure things are in order and running smoothly. This quiet, gentle, man lives a very easy going life style as he makes his rounds to see his friends to play cards and chat amongst his pals. George is what people call a “Nosey Parker” when his friends are busy distracting the newcomers he’ll just have himself a look around their home.

His time, which he loves, takes on a new friend in the form of a young lady from New York City. The more he comes around doing general housework and also some odd jobs become a friendship. She begins to open up to him sharing her thoughts and feelings about what is happening in her life. After, a while the husband becomes upset at the fact that Lyford continues his regular visits to their home and his wife. O’Brien shows the wife’s frustration and at times boredom living in the vast countryside where there is little to do. As they continue their friendship she even finds herself actually learning the tools of the trade about the rigors of living in the country.

The camera never interferes with the activities or nor does it make its presence too obvious. It let’s the characters in the story roam freely allowing you to forget that this is even a film and that you are listening in to their stories.

But something is happening around town that neither of them is aware of. ?Rumors? people are having phone conversations about their time together. It’s sad that the other people around town have to parade on the friendship without knowing the truth. It displays the obvious age difference between them and why the locals are spreading their version of what is going on between them. As soon as you see this film you can’t help wanting to see it again.

Nosey Parker is one of my “buried treasures” out of the year of 2003 and a look into the true Americana. Truly a must-see, currently out on DVD and video.

Dan Berman