Lena Dunham has become somewhat of an indie household name, and for a good reason. Her writing style has been compared to film god Woody Allen in multiple ways by many film critics. She's a one man band (or should I say one woman band) directing, writing, and starring in her first feature film. While the film does have its moments of amateurism, it is immediately offset by the level of mumblecore realism that really drives the atmosphere of the picture.
The main themes of this movie connect on a more personal level then a studio film could even attempt to get across. The plot, although very simple and yet successful, centers around Aura (Lena Dunham) who has recently graduated college and is trying to find her place in the world among old friendships, love interests, and a complicated family.
This movie uses realism to its advantage in that it does not follow a Hollywood "happy ending" plot line. The characters are depicted as true real life people, not embellished celluloid popcorn film fantasies. And that is what really sets this film apart from other independent character studies that I've seen.
Not only do I think this is a personal film for the audience, I also see this a personal film for Lena Dunham who plays here character of Aura almost too convincingly. Exploring the realm of what to do now that one chapter of her life has come to an end and another has just begun. It as if she had written a script about her life and just wanted to shoot it as a movie using friends and real situations.
Its very obvious that this film played as a springboard for what is now the hit HBO television show Girls, in which Lena Dunham plays a similar main character facing similar problems. So needless to say I highly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys the TV show or films that explore realism with an indie flare.
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