7 Chinese Brothers
Larry is a real slacker, a worthy heir of Gen X icons, the passive and insolent characters of Kevin Smith and Richard Linklater films. He lives in a cluttered apartment, has no money or prospects. He works because he has to, but makes no real effort. Larry likes to drink and take pills he gets from a friendly nurse. Larry is someone who has never joined the mainstream, who stands at the margins with his hands in his pockets and a wry comment always ready on the tip of his tongue. We learn of his existence from loosely related episodes that are sometimes amusing, other times sad and often lacking a denouement. The film stars Jason Schwartzman, known from the films of Wes Anderson as well as Alex Ross Perry's Listen up, Philip, whichscreened at the 2014 AFF. Schwartzman's role gives this casual story energy and depth. While Larry is blasé, arrogant and snooty, he is also fragile, human and likable. Bill Murray would be proud, wrote Joe Neumaier in the "Daily News."
Bob Byington
Director and sometime actor Bob Byington was born in 1971 and grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. He now works and lives in Austin Texas, a town known as a haven of independent artists. Byington made his directorial debut in 1996 with the film Shameless. His Somebody Up There Likes Me received the Special Jury Award at the Locarno Film Festival. He is oftentimes associated with the mumblecore movement, though he would personally eschew such comparisons.
Filmography
1996 Shameless
1998 Olympia
2009 Harmony and Me
2012 Somebody Up There Likes Me
2015 Siedmiu chińskich braci / 7 Chinese Brothers
