BEESWAX
Year: 2009
USA: The Cinema Guild
UK: ICA Films
Cast: Tilly Hatcher, Maggie Hatcher, Alex Karpovsky, Katy O'Connor, David Zellner, Kyle Henry, S J Anderson, Anne Dodge, Betty Blackwell, Bryan Poyser, Rebecca McInroy, Nathan Zellner, Atietie Tonwe, Nina Sokol, Jillian Glantz, Christy Moore, Janet Pierson, D J Taitelbaum, Becca Cohen, Moss Gillespie, Chad Nichols, Jimmy Gonzales, Dia Sokol, Bob Byington, Smiley Moreno, Peggy Chen
Director: Andrew Bujalski
Country: USA
USA & UK: 100 mins
USA Rated: NR
UK Certificate: NC
USA DVD Release Date: 6 April 2010
UK Release Date: 16 April 2010 (Limited Release - London, ICA)
UK Distributor
Synopsis
The story revolves primarily around a pair of twin sisters - Jeannie (Tilly Hatcher), who has been in a wheelchair since youth, and Lauren (Maggie Hatcher). Jeannie co-owns a used and vintage clothing store with her semi-estranged friend Amanda (Anne Dodge), while Lauren is between jobs and between boyfriends, considering going overseas to teach English.
Tensions are mounting between Jeannie and Amanda, their management styles clashing and communication problems getting exacerbated. An e-mail from Amanda implying that their conflict will end in a lawsuit if necessary sends Jeannie into a mild panic - Amanda's lawyer father had written up all their agreements and Jeannie feels beleaguered and at a distinct disadvantage. She calls on an ex-boyfriend, Merrill (Alex Karpovsky), who has just graduated from law school and is studying for the bar. After falling immediately into bed together, Merrill begins distracting himself from his own problems by trying to assist Jeannie. When Lauren, at loose ends, gets roped into a familial obligation back home with her mother, her mother's partner, Sally, somewhat overreaching her step-motherly bounds, tries to involve herself in Jeannie's problems.
BEESWAX is a story about families, real and imagined, people taking care of each other when they want to, when they need to, when they ought to.
A nicely alert visual style complements the subtle shades of comedy and drama, making this Bujalski's (FUNNY HA HA, MUTUAL APPRECIATION) most complete package so far.
