ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

THE HEART is a lonely hunter in ‘Me And You And Everyone We Know’. The first feature film from multimedia artist Miranda July is a wistful, self-conscious tale of longing and heartache set in suburban Los Angeles.

A typical American independent feature, it has echoes of the films of David Lynch and Todd Solondz in its unflinching regard for the dark heart beneath the sunny surface of American life.

July is the film’s writer and director, but also takes the role of Christine, a taxi driver and aspiring video artist trying to have her work taken seriously by the local Centre for Contemporary Art. She takes a shine to shoe salesman Richard (John Hawkes), a man barely surviving the meltdown of his marriage and the burden of caring for his sons Peter (Miles Thompson) and Robby (Brandon Ratcliff).

The film’s focus expands to depict a whole community of individuals struggling to make some kind of emotional connection to the people around them, eager for affection but fearful of rejection.

The film sometimes feels as awkward and uncomfortable as its main characters. A certain archness undermines its attempts to make some profound statement on the impossibility of meaningful relationships in a world so fraught with uncertainty and stress.

There are, however, some moments of real charm and some scenes that are genuinely disturbing, especially when the young Robby finds a strange soulmate in an internet chatroom. Too precious to be entirely successful or accessible, ‘Me And You And Everyone We Know’ still leaves you with plenty to ponder.

General release, selected cinemas
Director: Miranda July
Stars: John Hawkes, Miranda July, Miles Thompson, Brand Ratcliff.
Screenwriter: Miranda July
Certificate: 15
Running time: 91 mins
Country: US
Year: 2005 

© Allan Hunter, 2005