Directed by
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Breaking
Upwards An
unusually interesting little film opened last weekend in New York; if you
read the Sunday Times you saw the story about it. It’s called “Breaking
Upwards,” and it was apparently made for $15,000, which is about as
cheap as you can get and still call it a movie. Obviously if you don’t live in
New York you won’t see it in the theatre, but if you have a cable
system it’s now in the ‘on demand’ section and you can see it
for $6.99. “Breaking
Upwards,” which is a title not nearly as cute as it’s supposed to
be, is the story of a couple in their mid-twenties who’ve been together
four years, and everything is getting boring. She’s an actress, he’s a
would-be writer, but right now he’s taking care of a neighbor’s
toddler and living at his parent’s apartment. The couple, Zoe and
Daryl, have come up with an idea.
They’ll each take three days a week – they finally agree
on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and not see each other or even phone or
text each other on those days.
Does this mean they give each other permission to see other
people? And maybe sleep with
them? Or break up, as in breaking
up? We
watch as this little comedy/drama unfolds. Zoe is attracted, well maybe not quite, to the guy she’s doing a play with, who at
least seems a little more aggressive than Daryl. Daryl also has chances, but life
isn’t quite as easy for him.
Both Daryl and Zoe have amusingly written,
difficult relationships with their parents. Then Daryl invites Zoe to his
family’s Seder, where things do come to a head “Breaking
Upwards” is charming, nicely acted by all, shot and edited like a much
more expensive feature, and I think worth the $6.99 you’ll pay for
it. What more do you want from a
movie? |