By Design

The most stylish film to come out of Sundance and a winner at last year’s US in Progress showcase in Wrocław, By Design offers a rare and unforgettable sight: Juliette Lewis playing... a chair. We first meet Camille, played by Lewis, after a sunny lunch with friends, as she heads out shopping. In a sleek boutique, she falls head over heels for a golden-brown, sensuously curved wooden chair. The price is steep, but she’s willing to drain her account for it. When she returns, cash in hand, she discovers the chair has already been sold to a handsome pianist named Olivier (Mamoudou Athie). From there, an unexpected love triangle emerges: Camille, Olivier, and the chair. Amanda Kramer’s absurdist dramedy is both a biting satire of high-end design culture and a tender reflection on our desire to project ourselves through beautiful things. It's a film about taste, status, and the longing to feel special. The cast is another standout feature of By Design alongside Lewis’s scene-stealing performance and the sensual voice of Melanie Griffith, the film features a host of ’90s icons including Samantha Mathis, Robin Tunney, and the legendary Udo Kier.

8.11 Psychoczule team members introducing the movie.