Beeswax 2009

Andrew Bujalski’s (Mutual Appreciation, NZIFF06) third feature is a sardonic, minor-key comedy observing 20-something twins Lauren and Jeannie as they (don’t quite) confront romantic relationships and career-path crises. Jeannie co-owns a vintage clothing boutique and is involved in a passive-aggressive tug-of-war with her business partner, while the sporty Lauren is in two minds whether to move on overseas. Bujalski’s shrewd eye for their wily evasions should have you rolling yours, but there’s an undertow of sympathy that makes his satire sharply affecting too. — BG

“When caught up in the spell of Beeswax… it’s difficult to remember that his characters are just that: characters. Dialogue seems pitch-perfect; costumes fit to a tee; settings have personalities all their own; and compositions communicate both the casualness and the gravity of characters’ singular, familiar lives with documentary-like credibility.” — Livia Bloom, Cinema Scope

“Bujalski's moviemaking continues to engage and is a cut above the rest.” — Tim Wong, The Lumiere Reader