Hm, yes the target audience for this one is going to be tight. But if the title fits you, or if you somehow associate with the character of the quintessential misunderstood artist on the verge of a nervous breakdown, then this will be a real treat.
We follow 2 weeks in the life of "Sophia" (Vivian Bang) who is a freelance performance artist in LA. Or as she explains to her mother, "I make things you can't sell." Over the course of 2 weeks we witness her professional crisis, relationship crisis, and an overall life crisis in a very quirky and personal way. Although imdb lists this as a comedy drama, don't expect any gags, punchlines and LOLs because it's not that kind of comedy. It's more like the comedy of real life where there's no laugh track to our disasters, but objectively looking at it, it's just strange enough to be funny.
The interesting angle is that Sophia is a 1st generation Korean American who is trying her hardest to spin a racial discussion even though none exists. For example, one of her routines is a dramatic monologue about the LA riots and the media's coverage of black-on-Korean violence. Yes, 15 years prior. As such, her audience (people in the park) react with a mix of lukewarm politeness and complete disregard.
As the story unfolds, we see a similar attitude she has in her relationships (fabricating drama that doesn't apply). And ultimately we realize that Sophia is the perfect personification of passion without direction, or perhaps "sound and fury signifying nothing". But we are instantly hooked, wondering if this girl will pull herself together or if it'll end in disaster.
I thought the acting was fantastic all around, with real world type dialogue (such as people talking over each other, or not necessarily finishing sentences) that gives this film a very personal and familiar flavor, as if we're hanging out with friends.
There aren't too many flicks like this, but I might group it alongside other quirky dramas like "Punch Drunk Love" or the obscure 2009 gem called "(untitled)".
