Mutual Appreciation

NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD!

The Story:
Alan (Justin Rice), a musician whose band has just broken up, shows up in New York to pursue his burgeoning rock and roll career. He starts by searching for a drummer for a show he's already lined up, and otherwise goes about the mechanics of self-promotion. He finds a champion in Sara (Seung-Min Lee), a radio DJ who sets her sights on a submissive but uninterested Alan and finds him a drummer. In his down time, Alan drinks and strategizes with his old friend Lawrence (Andrew Bujalski), a grad student, and Lawrence's girlfriend Ellie (Rachel Clift), a journalist. Alan endeavors to keep his shoulder to the wheel, while Ellie finds herself compelled by him. The attraction is mutual, but both parties are reluctant to take the next step.
About the Writer/Director:
Andrew Bujalski's first feature film, Funny Ha Ha , was released theatrically in summer 2005 by Goodbye Cruel Releasing. A.O. Scott of The New York Times was kind enough to include it in his Top 10 Films of 2005 list and Dennis Lim followed up with a feature on Bujalski and both his films.
Funny Ha Ha's long road towards distribution actually landed it the unique honor of making a Top 10 Film list in three different years: in 2005 , 2004 by Film Comment and Cinemaspeak , and 2003 by The Boston Phoenix.
At the 2004 Independent Spirit Awards, Bujalski won the Someone to Watch award . The Boston Globe describes him as "unerringly polite and somewhat disheveled."