Mutual Appreciation

press release: USA | 2005 | 35mm | 109 min.

Director: Andrew Bujalski; Cast: Justin Rice, Rachel Clift, Andrew Bujalski

Bujalski’s naturalistic comedy warmly observes a set of young adults tentatively moving towards - or passively avoiding - serious relationships with the opposite sex. The central figures are a charismatic but non-committal single musician (Rice) and his two best friends, a couple (Clift and Bujalski) who have just moved in together. Every cast member – no matter how big or small their part – has a sense of intelligence and immediacy that is reminiscent of the best films of both Mike Leigh and Richard Linklater.

Andrew Bujalski: A shining light among filmmakers working in low-budget independently produced features, Andrew Bujalski started a movement with the semi-improvised, character-driven style he later coined as “mumblecore” in movies like Funny Ha Ha. In his subsequent work, notably Computer Chess, he emerged as a daring narrative strategist with a distinct visual style. Our series covers the first four features of the writer, director and sometimes actor, all shown on 35mm prints. Andrew Bujalski will join us in person March 28-30 to present Funny Ha Ha and Computer Chess, as well as a special screening of Sylvester Stallone’s Paradise Alley.

Admission free for all screenings, seating limited. No admission 15 minutes after scheduled start times.