Recently I tend to watch a plethora of European 'National' Cinema and if I watch something English or American, it must be something genuinely old or cult (or both). Therefore, seeing a quite nicely crafted piece of modern American (indie) cinema, is quite refreshing and reassuring.
Tiny Furniture (2010) is a compelling New York-based drama about a Film Studies graduate Aura (Lena Dunham) who tries to figure out what to do with her life next. Aura is a generic female character* that, luckily for us, is surrounded with an interesting lot of people; for example, a guy who places Nietzsche's philosophy into the Wild West décor on YouTube her best friend from childhood that is a notorious bon vivant (and my favourite character!).
Lena Dunham that not only cast herself as a main character, but also has written and directed the film, has already been pronounced the new Woody Allen. I would disagree with such comparison. The only 'New Woody Allen' is a sequential 'New Woody Allen Film' and creating a witty narrative on neurotic New Yorkers doesn't make you the 'NWA.' Still, miss Dunham has done a good job, providing there's enough room for few more neurotic artists.
Devoir: This is a very interesting interview with Lena Dunham on recent changes in the film industry and the ongoing digital revolution, provided by the 'PressPausePlay' documentary that you can watch online.
*A generic female character existed in the cinema long before Twilight's Bella, yet her characteristic traits give us the perfect description of the GFC; a mediocre girl that can get away with wearing flares during the whole film, and for some reason the most amazing male protagonist falls in love with her/ she gets to become Miss Congeniality, etc.
