‘Lucky,’ ‘Park’: Desperate Lives

Filmmaker Bruce R. Schwartz pays attention to lives so easily overlooked in his 20-minute “Outside the Lucky” (1990) and 75-minute “In MacArthur Park” (1977), two gentle, deeply compassionate studies of men struggling to survive on the margins of a society that not only is indifferent to their plights but also, in a very real sense, is responsible for creating them in the first place. The films open Friday at the AFI USA Independent Showcase at Laemmle’s Grande Theaters in downtown Los Angeles.

In “Outside the Lucky” C.P. (Max Trumpower, very effective) is a middle-aged homeless man who huddles at night by a supermarket and by day begs politely from its customers. In “In MacArthur Park,” Triam Lee (Adam Silver, who is remarkable) is a young Mojave Indian who has come to Los Angeles to try to find work to support himself and his wife and small son, who have remained back at their Arizona reservation. In both instances Schwartz wisely withholds information about what happened to these men to plunge them into increasingly desperate financial situations, at once preserving their dignity and saving the moment of truth for maximum dramatic effect. In both films Schwartz also deftly injects some comic relief.

The years since “In MacArthur Park” started making the festival and repertory theater circuit have only served to emphasize both its artistic accomplishment and deepen its meaning in an increasingly harsh world. As a fledgling filmmaker working on a low-low budget, Schwartz took real chances that paid off handsomely. He starts with Triam, now penniless and at an all-time low after a year-and-a-half in L.A., pulling a knife on a man in MacArthur Park for his money and accidentally stabbing him fatally. Overcome with remorse, Triam makes his way through a seedy slice of L.A., struggling with his mounting guilt and fear and clutching to a hope of somehow making it back safely to the reservation.

For Triam, the goal is to get enough money together to buy a bus ticket; for C.P., it is to collect the $32, an awesome sum for him, needed to a fill a prescription for pain pills to ease his ravaged stomach. His task is made all but impossible when a sanctimonious, well-dressed representative (Richard Penn) of the World Hunger Organization starts competing with C.P for donations at the market.

“In MacArthur Park” (Times-rated Mature for adult situations, themes) is the more impressive accomplishment because Schwartz simply had more screen time and the services of an exceptionally gifted cinematographer, John Sharaf, who gave the film a shadowy film noir look. But in a mere 20 minutes “Outside the Lucky” (Times-rated Family) makes its point, albeit a bit didactically, which is to show how easy it is for people to give to a charity while overlooking the needy right under their noses.

‘Outside the Lucky’ Max Trumpower: C.P. Richard Penn: World Hunger Rep

Writer-director Bruce R. Schwartz. Producer Joe Davis. Cinematographer Dwight Lay. Editor Lawrence Maddox. Music Rocky Davis. Sound Pat Toma. Running time: 20 minutes.

Times-rated Family. (appropriate for all ages).

‘In MacArthur Park’ Adam Silver: Triam Lee James Espinoza: Ricky Marcy Eudal: Ginny Anna Shorter: Woman in bus station

Produced through grant assistance from the AFI. Writer-producer-director Bruce R. Schwartz. Cinematographer John Sharaf. Editors Schwartz, Jerry Kutner. Music Rocky Davis. Set decorator Judith Randall. Sound Ken King. Running time: 1 hour, 15 minutes.

Times-rated Mature (too intense for small children).