Mutual Appreciation

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 (director 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 a next step.

“The wonderful independent film MUTUAL APPRECIATION looks like something that just came out of a time capsule, but there’s nothing dusty about it. Shot on expressively grainy black-and-white celluloid, the film has the kind of artfully artless, low-fi vibe that brings to mind the French New Wave of the late 1950’s and the East Village film scene of the late 1970’s. It’s the sort of unassuming discovery that could get lost in a crowd or suffer from too much big love, and while it won’t save or change your life, it may make your heart swell. Its aim is modest and true.” Manohla Dargis, New York Times

“If John Cassavetes had directed a script by Eric Rohmer, the result might have looked and sounded like "Mutual Appreciation." Indie auteur Andrew Bujalski (Funny Ha-Ha) has studied his mentors closely -- Mike Leigh and Jim Jarmusch are among his other obvious influences -- and put whatever lessons he learned to good use in this unaffectedly naturalistic and appealingly quirky low-key comedy about twentysomethings in the process of inventing themselves. “ (Variety)