Julian Po

It’s not the best-made film, but Julian Po has an interesting story and it has integrity. Christian Slater (as the title character) wanders into a small town and arouses all sorts of suspicion. After a day of xenophobically observing him, the townsfolk corner him and make him admit his criminal plan: he is going to kill himself. The town shifts from fear to reverence for the great visitor who is not afraid to take life by the throat and say “give me what I want or else....” Ironically, the love, attention, and sympathy that might make Po want to live, is conditional on his planning to die. It’s an unassuming little gem, and at 84 minutes, it’s easy to digest.