An independent feature film that was originally titled The Tears of Julian Po, which more accurately reflects the darkly comedic tone of the story. Julian Po was adapted by director Alan Wade from the 1977 novella, Smrt gospodina Goluže (aka La Mort de Monsieur Golouja, or The Death of Mr. Goluzha), by Serbian author Branimir Šćepanović. The film was shot on location in Fleischmanns, New York, a small Catskills town that time had essentially forgotten, which made it perfect for Julian Po.
The supporting cast of Julian Po is a Who’s-Who of comedic and dramatic talent from stage and screen, including Cherry Jones (Lucy), Michael Parks (Vern), Frankie Faison (Sheriff Leon), Harve Presnell (Mayor Henry Leech), Allison Janney (Lilah Leech), Željko Ivanek (Tom Potter), LaTanya Richardson Jackson (Darlene), Roy Cooper (Tobias the Barber), Bruce Bohne (Paster Bean), and iO Tillett Wright (Walter).
Variety called Po “a beautifully controlled fable whose profound underpinnings are buoyed by luminous comic timing.” Read the whole review here. Julian Po screened in competition at the Deauville Film Festival in France and was released in 75 theaters domestically in September of 1997. Julian Po frequently screens on IFC and other cable channels, so check your local listings.
