Mutual Appreciation

Aroview: An authentically amusing, perfectly observed capsule of post-graduate blues from the idiosyncratic dir. of FUNNY HA HA, praised almost universally for his refined yet unfurnished sophomore effort about an awkward love triangle between an aspiring indie musician and his best friend's girlfriend in hipster New York.

Gravitating towards the DIY cinema of John Cassavetes and the breezy love serenades of Eric Rohmer, dir. Bujalski elicits a comedic timing of ums, ahs, and inane improvisation banter that’s at once mundanely fashionable and hilariously real. Also spot on are his cast of characters: lived-in portraits of a lethargic generation, both free-spirited and inert in their quarter life uncertainty. Shot for pennies in 16mm black and white, its pleasures are undoubtedly small, yet deserving of all the appreciation it can get.

NZ International Film Festival 2006

more matches…