Chicago Cab (1998)

'Chicago Cab' offers a compelling snapshot into the life of a seemingly indifferent cab driver over the course of a single, gruelling 14-hour shift. This low-budget film paints a vivid tableau of the Windy City's diverse societal facets, reflecting the essence of humanity in all its beauty and absurdity. Our protagonist starts his journey seemingly cold and detached, but as the city's denizens come and go, his character unravels. Through encounters with an array of characters, from crackheads and stoners to high-flying lawyers and agitated foreigners, he responds to the whirlwind of madness with a stoic calm, leaving you almost sharing his sense of fatigue as the shift ends. Among the sea of faces he meets, some leave a deeper impression. A damaged rape victim evokes a profound emotional connection, stirring a desire to offer help where he knows none can be given. A desperate race to the hospital with a pregnant woman in labor, and a clandestine pickup from a drug runner adds to the day's chaotic tapestry. The film purposefully offers only fragments of the cabbie's personal life, focusing instead on the reflection of society as seen through his rear-view mirror. This design leaves the audience with an indirect emotional connection to his life, through the lives of those he encounters. Featuring a host of familiar faces in unexpected roles, 'Chicago Cab' is a tribute to the highs and lows of urban life, an exploration of humanity, and a testament to the unspoken bond between a city and its cabbie.

Chicago Cab is a comedy movie featuring Paul Dillon and directed by Mary Cybulski.

Chicago Cab is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Plex, Plex Player, Pluto TV, Shout! Factory TV and Tubi TV.