quirky and independent and theatrical and christian slater these be all teaser that make me look forward to spend an hour or so discover a jewel of a film . boy and be i disappointed . julian po never get over itself . the film be relentlessly self conscious . i find myself unable to suspend disbelief for even a moment . the overdone and obviously theatrical set and the overdone and obviously theatrical acting and the overdone and obviously theatrical direct well and you get the idea . allegory do not need to be deliver sledge hammer style . and it hard to feel much of anything for julian po because we never know much about him . the ridiculous girlfriend and the annoying townsfolk and the idiotic clergyman and the bratty kid why would anyone and particularly anyone with a life long ambition to get to the seaside ( slater character ) and decide to stay in such a dismal place .