Liberal Arts (2012)

When 30-something Jesse returns to his alma mater for a professor's retirement party, he falls for Zibby, a college student, and is faced with a powerful attraction that springs up between them.

Director:

Josh Radnor

Writer:

Josh Radnor

Stars:

Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Elizabeth Reaser

Cast

Cast overview:
Josh Radnor	...	Jesse Fisher
Elizabeth Olsen	...	Zibby
Richard Jenkins	...	Professor Peter Hoberg
Allison Janney	...	Professor Judith Fairfield
Elizabeth Reaser	...	Ana
John Magaro	...	Dean
Kate Burton	...	Susan
Robert Desiderio	...	David
Zac Efron	...	Nat
Kristen Bush	...	Leslie
Ali Ahn	...	Vanessa
Ned Daunis	...	Eric
Gregg Edelman	...	Robert

Storyline

Thirty-five year old Jesse Fisher, an admissions officer at a New York City post-secondary institution he who loves English and literature, has somewhat lost his passion in life, which includes recently being unceremoniously dumped by his latest girlfriend, who could no longer be the person to prop him up emotionally. He has a chance to find that passion again when he is invited to the retirement dinner of his second favorite Ohio University college professor, Peter Hoberg, as his time there was when his life held the most passion. Jesse's encounters with five people there may determine if he does find that passion again. They are: Hoberg, who is resisting the notion of retirement; Judith Fairfield, Jesse's favorite professor, although for a different reason than his like of Hoberg; Nat, a free spirit who navigates life at the institution on his own terms; undergraduate student Dean, who Jesse sees as a younger more destructive version of himself; and nineteen year old undergraduate ...

---

Plot Keywords:

written and directed by cast member | bare chested male

---

Taglines:

Sometimes students make the best teachers.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content including references, mature thematic material, and some teen drinking

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 October 2012 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Amor y letras

Filming Locations:

Gambier, Ohio, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$27,435 (USA) (14 September 2012)

Gross:

$317,190 (USA) (16 November 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Strategic Motion Ventures, BCDF Pictures, Tom Sawyer Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed mostly at Josh Radnor's alma mater Kenyon College, a small liberal arts school located in Gambier, Ohio. Allison Janney was a student there.

---

Goofs

One of the early listings in the final credits is missing an "s" - "First Assitant Camera"

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Jesse Fisher: You know, high school to college, it can be a big transition, especially if you're not from the city, so - so we try yo help out with that transition, in a number of ways.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #19.203 (2011)

---

Soundtracks

"Piano Concerto No. 5: 2nd Movement"
Music by Ludwig van Beethoven
Arranged by Keith Blainville
Performed by The Blainville Symphony Orchestra'
Courtesy of Focus Music Ltd.
By arrangement with 5 Alarm Music

User Reviews

Great Film

I just watched "Liberal Arts" tonight and I loved it. If you have been to college, and had the complex bright future/bleak future talk with yourself, you will understand this movie.

To me college was about hope, but it was also about facing the real reality of life, and after college is when the real work begins, more emotional growth than anything. I loved Josh's Radner's character, he was a little lost, and kind of reaching back to days of old hoping to re-kindle some of that passion and drive he once had when he was in college. Elizabeth Olsen's character was great as well, she had the I'm-too-mature-for-my-age-group sort of attitude, that proved just how young she really was. The rest of the cast was fabulous, Richard Jenkins, who I have alway's loved, and Allison Janey, who surprisingly was not the usual character you see with her. This is a movie you take friends to, and then go out for coffee and have a great conversation.