I watched this film at the Toronto Internation Film Felstival's Next Wave, which was free for anyone under 25 years of age, with more than 300 other young people. I like to read reviews to get a general consensus on how a film performed, and I almost didn't go to this one because of the reviews I had read, which were mostly negative; but one of my friends had said: "You can't always trust the reviews." She was right.
After the film the director Dustin Guy Defa got on the stage to have a discussion and a Q&A about the film. It was shot on 16mm film, which gave it its subtle grain and warm look. Defa revealed that the main character Bene, the nice-shirt wearing record collector, was his actual real-life roomate, and the central figure he wanted the film to revolve around. Defa also discussed how Bene and Michael Cera's character Phil both deeply loved music, yet expressed it in different ways. Phil's is this aggressive metal, which is his only way to express himself, but he plays it to try and impress others, and this extends into his whole character. Whereas Bene loves collecting records and listening to beautiful soul, and is able to express himself not only through music but also his relationships with his best friend and roommate Ray and girlfriend Francis. Bene is able to act with passion in any situation, showing "big love," and even willing to break legs when his kindness is taken for granted.
I interpreted Phil and Bene's juxtaposition as the difference between listening to music with your mind and feeling it with your heart and soul. Phil's music was very lyrical and chaotic, where Bene's was smooth and danceable. I'm not saying one music choice is better than the other, but you see where each character ends up at the end of the film, and this is not only due to their music choice, but also the way they behave in the world.
Overall I thought the film was light and had this unexplainable warmness to it. It did have moments where it fell flat, like when Wendy and Melanie have a conversation about genitalia that ends with long awkward silence, which comes off as uncomfortable rather than the humor which was intended.
Nonetheless, my friend and I very much enjoyed the film, and I hope to see more from the great Dustin Guy Defa, the beautiful Tavi Gevinson, and the nice shirt wearing Bene Coopersmith in the future.
After the film the director Dustin Guy Defa got on the stage to have a discussion and a Q&A about the film. It was shot on 16mm film, which gave it its subtle grain and warm look. Defa revealed that the main character Bene, the nice-shirt wearing record collector, was his actual real-life roomate, and the central figure he wanted the film to revolve around. Defa also discussed how Bene and Michael Cera's character Phil both deeply loved music, yet expressed it in different ways. Phil's is this aggressive metal, which is his only way to express himself, but he plays it to try and impress others, and this extends into his whole character. Whereas Bene loves collecting records and listening to beautiful soul, and is able to express himself not only through music but also his relationships with his best friend and roommate Ray and girlfriend Francis. Bene is able to act with passion in any situation, showing "big love," and even willing to break legs when his kindness is taken for granted.
I interpreted Phil and Bene's juxtaposition as the difference between listening to music with your mind and feeling it with your heart and soul. Phil's music was very lyrical and chaotic, where Bene's was smooth and danceable. I'm not saying one music choice is better than the other, but you see where each character ends up at the end of the film, and this is not only due to their music choice, but also the way they behave in the world.
Overall I thought the film was light and had this unexplainable warmness to it. It did have moments where it fell flat, like when Wendy and Melanie have a conversation about genitalia that ends with long awkward silence, which comes off as uncomfortable rather than the humor which was intended.
Nonetheless, my friend and I very much enjoyed the film, and I hope to see more from the great Dustin Guy Defa, the beautiful Tavi Gevinson, and the nice shirt wearing Bene Coopersmith in the future.