In the black-and-white indie film Mutual Appreciation, Alan, a twentysomething singer-songwriter from Boston, moves to Brooklyn after his power-pop band breaks up. He spends most of his time hanging out with an old friend, Lawrence (played by the movie’s director, Andrew Bujalski), and trying to score some gigs around town. Complicating things is Lawrence’s gal pal, Ellie, who kinda likes Alan, who also sorta likes her. Like Truffaut’s New Wave classic Jules and Jim, Mutual Appreciation’s stark portrait of the everyday lives of three friends combines the blah (the pals make cookies) with the bizarre (Alan stumbles into a feminist’s party, where he’s forced to put on makeup and a dress). It’s a beguiling look at adulthood and all the messy responsibilities that go with it.
Fri., Dec. 15, 9:30 p.m.; Sat., Dec. 16, 7:40 p.m.

This article appears in Dec 13-19, 2006.