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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 (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.
Official Selection (select listing): SXSW, Rotterdam, Newport, Independent Film Festival of Boston
Awards: Best Screenplay - Newport, Best Director - Sidewalk, Top 10 Film of the Year - Cinematical, Village Voice Best of 2005 Film Series - Best Actress - Rachel Clift, Peniscola International Comedy Film Festival (Spain)
Crew:
Writer, Director, Editor: Andrew Bujalski
Producers: Ethan Vogt, Morgan Faust, Dia Sokol
Director of Photography: Matthias Grunsky
Co-Producer: Mynette Louie
Associate Producer: Jeff Caldwell
Featuring songs by: Bishop Allen, Omzo, Matty & Mossy, The Common Cold, and Brandon Patton
Cast:
Alan ... Justin Rice
Ellie ... Rachel Clift
Lawrence ... Andrew Bujalski
Sara ... Seung-Min Lee
Dennis ... Kevin Micka
Walter ... Bill Morrison
Patricia ... Pamela Corkey
Rebecca ... Mary Varn
Esther ... Tamara Luzeckyj
Jerry ... Ralph Tyler
Hildy ... Kate Dollenmayer
Julian ... Keith Gessen
Scotty ... Peter Pentz
Ron ... Salvatore Botti
"I bet Andrew Bujalski is sick of reading that he's the voice of his generation, when most of that neo-slacker demographic has never had the opportunity to see his films. Like Funny Ha Ha, Mutual Appreciation is hardly your standard Amerindie . . . it's shot on 16mm black-and-white, thus confirming Bujalski's allegiance to a strain of maverick films—Shadows, Stranger than Paradise, Clerks—that bring poignantly accurate renditions of subcultures of which their directors have intimate knowledge to otherwise homogenized screens."
—Amy Taubin, Film Comment
"Mutual Appreciation is the second chapter in what seems like Bujalski's statement about people trying to find the right words as they move toward adulthood and negotiating their fears of commitment of any kind—to a job, a person, or a complete thought. He could have called this movie A Tentative Yes. Of course, that title should do nothing to stop you from making an absolute commitment to see this film."
—Wesley Morris, The Boston Globe
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 Mutual Appreciation website
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