The Etiquette Man

You simply won't 'get' The Etiquette Man if you insist on trying to fit it into a prescribed category.

This is the story of a traveling lecturer who, without apology, teaches 1950's dating etiquette to 21st Century teens with warm, if inevitable, results. The high school characters in the film -- as well as its viewing audiences -- initially greet The Etiquette Man with stunned disbelief. What the h-e-double hockey sticks is this tall, soft-spoken, bow-tied guy talkin' about? "Arrive early for a date and shake hands with your date's dad?" Sheesh!

But as the film progresses, as The Etiquette Man and his tatooed, body-pierced banger classes discuss courtesy and respect and civility's place in modern relationships, we (as they) realize how complicated and selfish all our lives have become. Few films of any length inspire this kind of insight and gentle self-examination.

I loved every second of this delightful, quirky short comedy. The accolades it's received around the world are well deserved.