Appropriate Behaviour (2014)

Comedy, Drama, Romance

Director: Desiree Akhavan
Writer: Desiree Akhavan
Starring: Desiree Akhavan, Rebecca Henderson, Halley Feiffer, Ryan Fitzsimmons

Appropriate Behavior follows the story of Shirin, a twenty-something bisexual woman living in Brooklyn, in the aftermath of the breakup with her girlfriend, as she tries to figure out what she is doing with her life. Mostly set within her Iranian-American community, complete with conservative-yet-understanding parents, an overachieving and judgemental older brother and unusual party customs, the film shows Shirin dealing with the problems of everyday life, getting a job teaching filmmaking to five-year-olds, embarking on various sexual encounters, while struggling to pick up the pieces.

The main asset of the film is Desiree Akhavan, who plays the lead role, but has also written and directed it. Although a somewhat clichéd comedy about neurotic  hipster New Yorkers, Appropriate Behavior is a compelling insight into the American immigrant experience, religious tradition vs. homosexuality, and an earnest coming-of-age tale of sorts that manages to feel like a unique vision of life seen through unique eyes.

Plot summary from IMDb: For Shirin, being part of a perfect Persian family isn't easy. Acceptance eludes her from all sides: her family doesn't know she's bisexual, and her ex-girlfriend, Maxine, can't understand why she doesn't tell them. Even the six-year-old boys in her moviemaking class are too ADD to focus on her for more than a second. Following a family announcement of her brother's betrothal to a parentally approved Iranian prize catch, Shirin embarks on a private rebellion involving a series of pansexual escapades, while trying to decipher what went wrong with Maxine.

Awards: 2 wins & 6 nominations.
Runtime: 86 min
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