Director: Mark Romanek
Actors: Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan
PlotSeymour "Sy" Parrish works at the photo development department of a large discount retailer, SavMart, where he's known for his meticulous attention to detail and his deep appreciation for the craft of photography. Sy becomes obsessively attached to the Yorkin family—Nina, Will, and their young son Jakob—whose photos he has been developing for years. Believing himself to be a sort of uncle to the family, he collects duplicates of their photos and creates a "family" album in his sparse apartment, living vicariously through their seemingly perfect moments captured on film. Despite his outwardly benign nature, Sy's loneliness and desire for connection lead him down a troubling path.
As Sy's obsession with the Yorkin family grows, he starts to cross the boundaries of professional and personal lines. He begins to involve himself in their lives beyond the confines of his photo lab, taking it upon himself to protect them from perceived threats and unhappiness. His actions escalate from benignly watching over the family to sinister interference when he believes family dynamics threaten the idealized version of the Yorkins he has constructed in his mind. The situation intensifies as Sy's mental state becomes more unhinged, setting the stage for a climax that threatens to shatter the idyllic illusions he's built around the family and himself.
MoreWriters: Mark Romanek
Release Date: 13 Sep 2002
Runtime: 96 min
Rating: R
Country: United States
Language: English
Blu-ray
'One Hour Photo' remains chilling, reflecting changes in privacy and photo sharing; Blu-ray has flaws but is a valuable watch.
Read our review of One Hour Photo to find out more