A teenage skateboarder becomes suspected of being connected with a security guard who suffered a brutal death in a skate park called "Paranoid Park".
Direction
Van Sant's fragmented memory structure mirrors teenage denial.
Cinematography
16mm grain and Super 8 skate footage = visual poetry.
Acting
Non-actor Gabe Nevins's blankness is devastatingly perfect.
Director
Gus Van Sant
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Gabe Nevins was discovered through MySpace after Van Sant posted a casting call; he had zero acting experience.
Adapted from Blake Nelson's novel, the film captures mid-2000s Portland's specific tension between privileged West Hills kids and working-class Eastside skaters.
US
