Synopsis:
Josh Ross (David Moscow), a self-absorbed Hollywood talent agent in his 30s, lands in Guatemala, “looking for Palladin,” Jack “Jake” Palladin (Ben Gazzara), a two-time Oscar-winning movie star of...
Josh Ross (David Moscow), a self-absorbed Hollywood talent agent in his 30s, lands in Guatemala, “looking for Palladin,” Jack “Jake” Palladin (Ben Gazzara), a two-time Oscar-winning movie star of the 1960s and 70s who has dropped out of the entertainment business. Josh hopes to get in and out of Antigua, the small colonial town where Palladin reportedly lives, in just a few hours, enough time to offer Jake a lot of money for a small part in a remake of one of his big Hollywood productions.
Josh’s first encounter with the new country isn’t promising. His credit card doesn’t work and a local urchin scams him–or so he thinks.
The search is emotionally complicated. Palladin was once married to Josh’s late mother, and although Josh and Jake never met, Josh’s disdain for the retired actor mirrors his aversion to the local community whose help he desperately needs in order to find him. Clearly his urgency and self-important posturing, fueled by an impending large studio deal for his other client (the octogenarian, legendary director Billy Builder), are constantly thwarted by the pace of life in the small, unhurried community. Most importantly, he can’t find Palladin No one will give him information about the actor’s whereabouts, even though they all know where he is.
Attempting to elicit information about Palladin, Josh has a series of frustrating, comic encounters in a barbershop, a shoe repair shop (owner portrayed by Luis Argueta), the police station (Pedro Armendariz Jr. as the chief), and the post office (with postal workers played by Guatemala’s most famous comedian actors, Jimmy and Sammy Morales). Everyone prefers to protect their friend from this demanding and annoying young man. In one instance, Josh finds himself in the same shop with Palladin; yet he is kept in the dark while the locals laugh at him while he asks for the very man to which he is standing.
The truth: “Jake” Palladin is a cook at a Café Viejo, a local popular hangout for a tightly knit group of friends. There’s Arnie (Vincent Pastore), the penny-pinching café owner; Rosario (Talia Shire), a waitress romantically involved with Palladin; Nestor (Arturo Castro), a young cook and Arnie’s low-key son, in love with Mercedes (Michelle Manterola), a beautiful young waitress with big dreams. Then there’s the small group of expatriates who are attempting to write and produce their own small film starring Palladin: Bahman (Bahman Soltani), an Iranian filmmaker; Jerry (Jerry Carlson), a fledgling American screenwriter; Ed (Roberto Diaz Gomar) a renowned painter and chef, and Mark (Robert Youngs), a musician.
Although he is the center of the Café’s life and kitchen, Palladin frequently disappears to give food and attention to Hank (Richard Smith), a former Hollywood talent agent, and his cancer-stricken actress wife Helen (Angelica Aragon), who are his friends from the old “Hollywood days.”
Dispirited and suspecting that he has been sent to the wrong country, Josh momentarily abandons his search, only to be forced to resume it by the collapse of the Builder deal. Suddenly, locating Palladin becomes a matter of financial survival.
As fate would have it, while unhappily dining in Café Viejo, Josh complains about the food to Rosario. Jake, who cares more about defending his cooking than finding out why this irritating young man has been after him, unwittingly confronts Josh. Realizing that he has found the elusive Palladin, Josh presents Jake with the million-dollar offer and all the perks. When Jake asks about the script, Josh dismissively responds, “They are offering an old man a comeback and you want to read a script?” To which the retried star characteristically responds, “A comeback from where—to where?” The Café’s coterie of would-be filmmakers is privately fearful that the “Hollywood” offer will doom their dream. Knowing full the reasons behind Palladin’s self imposed exile, Rosario is concerned that Palladin will return to his former life and its consequences.
Although Palladin attempts to delay his decision, Josh presses for an answer. “If you pressure me,” answers Palladin, “The answer will be ‘no.’” Angry and frustrated, Josh boards a bus to return to the airport, but Palladin surprisingly tracks him down and convinces him to stay a little longer. The two drive around and after some verbal sparring, Jake tells Josh the story of how he got his start as an actor with the help of his first agent, Henry Ben Rose. Confirming Jake’s suspicions, Josh confesses his identity as Rose’s son, but admits that he hasn’t seen his father in 20 years. Palladin drives Josh to Hank and Helen’s, and Josh finds himself unexpectedly reunited with his estranged father at long last. Unable to deal with his emotions. Josh flees the situation. Now it is Palladin who must find Josh and convince him to stay.
Palladin takes Josh to his own spacious and well-appointed home, where he lives with Rosario surrounded by beauty and antiquities. Surprised by his wealth, Josh wants to know why Jake works as a cook. “Because I like it,” is Jake’s simple answer; he is at the stage of his life when money is no longer the focus of his attention. Late that night, Josh confronts Jake, demanding information about his mother’s untimely death, which he had only experienced through the headlines.
When a new day dawns, Josh is a changed person, less confused about his future and much enlightened about his past. Palladin, despite the lure of Hollywood’s call, passes on the movie offer, choosing to remain in the community in which he has found peace. Antigua, it turns out, is a sanctuary for any and all who are willing to surrender to its charms.
--© Official Site
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