Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Miranda July

Writer (WGA):

Miranda July (written by)

Release Date:

19 August 2005 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A lonely shoe salesman and an eccentric performance artist struggle to connect in this unique take on contemporary life.

Plot Keywords:

Shoe Salesman | Art Gallery | Self Mutilation | Divorcee | Hope Chest

Awards:

17 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

John Hawkes	...	Richard Swersey
Miranda July	...	Christine Jesperson
Miles Thompson	...	Peter Swersey
Brandon Ratcliff	...	Robby Swersey
Carlie Westerman	...	Sylvie
Hector Elias	...	Michael
Brad William Henke	...	Andrew
Natasha Slayton	...	Heather
Najarra Townsend	...	Rebecca
Tracy Wright	...	Nancy Herrington
JoNell Kennedy	...	Pam
Ellen Geer	...	Ellen
Colette Kilroy	...	Sylvie's Mom
James Kayten	...	Sylvie's Dad
Amy French	...	Museum Assistant
Sven Holmberg	...	Artist
James Mathers	...	Teacher
Kelsey Chapman	...	Sylvie's Friend
Tiana Marie Nelms	...	Sylvie's Friend
Jordan Potter	...	Shamus
Cheryl Phillips	...	Female Shoe Customer
Patricia Skeriotis	...	Housewares Saleswoman
E.J. Callahan	...	Man Tapping Quarter (as EJ Callahan)
Peter James	...	Goldfish Dad (as James Symington)
Giavanna Whited	...	Goldfish Girl
Erlinda Bugayong	...	Middle Car Passenger
Amber Binford	...	Peep Peep Kid
Kelli Greaney	...	Peep Peep Kid
Dina Kriger	...	Peep Peep Kid
Caitlin Reza	...	Peep Peep Kid
Devin Rockwell	...	Peep Peep Kid
Jesse Saenz	...	Peep Peep Kid
Michael Swinfard	...	Peep Peep Kid
Zachary Hackbarth	...	Peep Peep Kid
David Serfozo	...	Bus Stop Man
Candi Herbert	...	Talking Picture Frame Woman
Anthony Binford	...	Classroom Kid
Kelci Griffith-Young	...	Classroom Kid
Kwinci Griffith-Young	...	Classroom Kid
Lance Norling	...	Classroom Kid
Paige Norling	...	Classroom Kid
Brendan Reza	...	Classroom Kid
Kevin Montgomery	...	Classroom Kid
Ashi Toledano	...	Classroom Kid
Timmy Nilsson	...	Robby Look-a-like
Richard Goodman	...	T'ai Chi Man

Directed by
Miranda July

Writing credits (WGA)
Miranda July		(written by)

Produced by
Holly Becker	....	executive producer
Peter Carlton	....	executive producer
Mike Crawford	....	line producer (as Michael Crawford)
Caroline Kaplan	....	executive producer
Gina Kwon	....	producer
Mary Prendergast	....	associate producer
Jonathan Sehring	....	executive producer
Suzi Yoonessi	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Michael Andrews

Cinematography by
Chuy Chávez		(director of photography) (as Chuy Chavez)

Film Editing by
Andrew Dickler
Charles Ireland

Casting by
Meg Morman

Production Design by
Aran Mann

Art Direction by
John Wyatt

Set Decoration by
Bryan Venegas

Costume Design by
Christie Wittenborn

Makeup Department
Barney Burman	....	prosthetics
Jerry Constantine	....	special makeup effects
Lauren Velez	....	assistant makeup artist
Leo Won	....	key hair stylist
Leo Won	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Brad Goodman	....	post-production supervisor (as Bradley M. Goodman)
Chris Stinson	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Amy Armstrong	....	first assistant director
Keith Jones	....	second assistant director (as Keith C.A. Jones)
Elion Olson	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Steven Birch	....	artwork
Emily Bulfin	....	assistant art director
Chris Christion	....	artwork
Juliane Crump	....	art department coordinator
Amie Dicke	....	artwork
Jim Drain	....	artwork
Harrell Fletcher	....	artwork
Charles Goldman	....	artwork
Ken Gonzales-Day	....	artwork
Rita Gonzalez	....	curatorial advisor
Maija Haavisto	....	art: ASCII art courtesy of
Emma Hedditch	....	artwork
Miranda July	....	artwork
Gregory Kucera	....	artwork
Elizabeth Leister	....	set dresser
Becca Mann	....	artwork
Erinn McCormack	....	assistant art director
Andrew O'Melia	....	set dresser
Dominique Phelps	....	art intern
Elizabeth Pollard	....	art intern
Joshua Pollard	....	art intern
Lauren Rosenbloom	....	set dresser
Susie Shen	....	art intern
Trevor Shimizu	....	artwork
Joe Sola	....	artwork
Rob Spence	....	construction
Chikako Suzuki	....	lead scenic
Sean Tejaratchi	....	graphic designer

Sound Department
Kyle Alexander	....	assistant sound editor (as Kyle C. Alexander)
Preston Connor	....	boom operator
Erik Diener	....	additional boom operator
Stefan Fraticelli	....	foley artist
Shaughnessy Hare	....	additional re-recording mixer
Yehuda Maayan	....	production sound mixer
Zsolt Magyar	....	additional sound mixer
Stephen Muir	....	foley recording mixer
Barbara Noren	....	first sound assistant editor (as Barb Noren)
Michelle Pazer	....	adr editor
Michelle Pazer	....	dialogue editor
Bryan Pennington	....	consultant: Dolby Sound
Meg Taylor	....	sound re-recording mixer
Meg Taylor	....	supervising sound editor
Aaron Sawyer	....	sound utility (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Mitsu Hadeishi	....	instant messaging effects

Visual Effects by
Corinne Bogdanowicz	....	digital painter: Pacific Title Digital
Jennifer Chantnicki	....	digital painter: Pacific Title Digital
Scott M. Davids	....	visual effects artist
Craig Mathieson	....	digital compositor: Pacific Title Digital
Patrick Phillips	....	digital compositor: Pacific Title Digital
David Sosalla	....	visual effects supervisor: Pacific Title Digital
James D. Tittle	....	digital coordinator: Pacific Title Digital
Brian Corpus	....	technical operations manager: Pacific Title and Art Studio (uncredited)

Stunts
Mark Chadwick	....	stunts
Phil Chong	....	stunts
Jayson Dumenigo	....	stunts
Steven Lambert	....	stunts (as Stephen Lambert)
Terry Notary	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Darrick Akey	....	additional second assistant camera
Mike Barnett	....	additional camera operator (as Michael Barnett)
Richard W. Botchlet	....	additional electric (as Richard Botchlet)
Jeremie Brillant	....	additional gaffer
Marie Chao	....	additional first assistant camera
Keith J. Duggan	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Keith Duggan)
Matt Egan	....	additional second assistant camera
Eric Forand	....	gaffer
Erik Gonzales	....	additional electric
J.T. Gurzi	....	additional best boy grip (as JT Gurzi)
Stephen James	....	key grip (as Stephen Kendall James)
Dan Kanes	....	best boy electric
Lawrence Karman	....	additional Steadicam operator
Matthew Kistenmacher	....	additional electric
Jongkwon Ko	....	third grip (as Jungkwon 'Jay' Ko)
Jennifer Lai	....	second assistant camera
Ellen D. 'Kerry' McCarn	....	additional second assistant camera (as Kerry McCarn)
David Newbert	....	grip intern
Peter Ozarowski	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Zack Richard	....	additional second assistant camera
Jeff Samuelson	....	best boy grip
Alex Scott	....	additional second assistant camera
Michael Skor	....	first assistant camera
Cecilia Stewart	....	grip intern
Michael Stumpf	....	Steadicam operator
Phoebe Sudrow	....	still photographer
Patrick Ebert	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Owen Foye	....	additional best boy electric (uncredited)

Casting Department
Eyde Belasco	....	additional casting
Linda Phillips-Palo	....	additional casting
Paul Palo	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Caitlin Alexander	....	on-set costumer
Elena Rudnick	....	wardrobe intern

Editorial Department
Scott M. Davids	....	assistant editor
Kevin O'Connor	....	digital color timer: Global Entertainment Partners
Matt Radecki	....	on-line editor

Music Department
Peter Afterman	....	music consultant
Bryan Cook	....	score mixer
Bryan Cook	....	score recordist
Inara George	....	vocals
Pete McNeal	....	musician: additional drums
Brienne Rose	....	music coordinator
Sara Sharfstein	....	vocal coach
Grant Taylor	....	vocal coach
Margaret Yen	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Collin Butrum	....	transportation coordinator
Rocco Dinobili	....	transportation captain
Jesse Gonzalez	....	transportation captain (as Jesse Gonzales)
Kevin Simmons	....	driver

Other crew
Brooks Bonstin	....	location scout
Brandi Borden	....	office production assistant
Taylor Boyd	....	location manager
Greg Campeau	....	location scout (as Gregg Campeau)
Janae Dimick	....	set production assistant
Harry Dixon	....	business affairs: FilmFour
Jonako Donley	....	office intern
Patrick Ebert	....	additional set production assistant
Sahra Girshick	....	office production assistant
Sherry Gunderman	....	script supervisor
Kimberly James	....	set production assistant
Tracey Josephs	....	head of production: FilmFour
Grant Keiner	....	office production assistant
T. Scott Keiner	....	production office coordinator (as Scott Keiner)
Tracy Kirkpatrick	....	additional set production assistant
Hugh McAloon	....	office production assistant
Erin McCann	....	intern: Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences
Iliana Nikolic	....	production executive
Molly O'Connor	....	set production assistant
Alia Raza	....	additional set production assistant
William Sandidge	....	location manager
Pinar Sirvanci	....	office intern
Bill Stevens	....	production accountant
Marlene Stevens	....	assistant production office coordinator
Wally Uchida	....	location manager
Sylvia Vidaurri	....	craft service
Joel Virgel	....	office production assistant
Gary DeGalla	....	location manager (uncredited)
Trip Gould	....	assistant coordinator: pre-production (uncredited)
Brett Hatten	....	set intern (uncredited)
Steve Martin	....	set medic (uncredited)
Jon Recher	....	key set production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Patricia Alvillar	....	special thanks
Miguel Arteta	....	very special thanks
Lynn Auerbach	....	in loving memory of
Lotoya Bailey	....	special thanks
Lindsay Beamish	....	special thanks
Betty Bennett	....	special thanks
Claudia Bestor	....	special thanks
Jerome Blake	....	special thanks
Michael Bodie	....	special thanks
Chris Bolton	....	special thanks
Carrie Brownstein	....	special thanks
Julia Bryan-Wilson	....	special thanks
John Bunzel	....	special thanks
Mark Byrne	....	special thanks
Padraic Cassidy	....	special thanks
Karin Chien	....	special thanks
Curtiss Clayton	....	special thanks
Brian Costello	....	special thanks
Michael Coughlan	....	special thanks
Dena DeCola	....	special thanks
Marianne DeMarco	....	special thanks
Thérèse DePrez	....	special thanks (as Therese DePrez)
Alison Dickey	....	special thanks
Mark Dornfeld	....	special thanks
Kassie Evashevski	....	special thanks
Phillip Feiner	....	special thanks (as Phil Feiner)
Jenae Ferguson	....	special thanks
Michele Ferrone	....	special thanks
Gyula Gazdag	....	special thanks
Kenny Gonzales	....	special thanks
Keith Gordon	....	special thanks
Matthew Greenfield	....	very special thanks
Richard Greiling	....	special thanks
Robin Grossinger	....	special thanks
David Hayes	....	special thanks
Emma Hedditch	....	special thanks
Bel Hernandez	....	special thanks
Jess Hilliard	....	special thanks
Michael Hoffman	....	special thanks
Robert Ilniki	....	special thanks
Greg King	....	special thanks
Lynzee Klingman	....	special thanks
Curtis Knapp	....	special thanks
Scott Macaulay	....	special thanks
Kerry Macrae	....	special thanks
Kaehla Marasich	....	special thanks
Ilyse McKimmie	....	special thanks
Sally Menke	....	special thanks
Rochelle Montenegro	....	special thanks
Rick Moody	....	special thanks
Karen Murphy	....	special thanks
Robin O'Hara	....	special thanks
Tom Pabst	....	special thanks
Tommy Pallotta	....	special thanks
Dan Partland	....	special thanks
Chris Payne	....	special thanks
Javier Peres	....	special thanks: Peres Projects
Mary Kay Place	....	special thanks
Susan Ploetz	....	special thanks
Melanie Ramsayer	....	special thanks
Deborah Reinisch	....	special thanks
Rena Ronson	....	special thanks
Paul Ryals	....	special thanks
Phyllis Ryals	....	special thanks
Tina Holmes Salomon	....	special thanks
Michelle Satter	....	very special thanks
Edward Saxon	....	special thanks (as Ed Saxon)
Arthur Schlenger	....	special thanks
Edie Shapiro	....	special thanks
Susan Shilliday	....	special thanks
Rick Sparr	....	special thanks
Beth Spira	....	special thanks
Trish Stansfield	....	special thanks
Elisabeth Subrin	....	special thanks
Kevin Tent	....	special thanks
Camille Thomasson	....	special thanks
Steve Van Anda	....	special thanks
Erica Wandner	....	special thanks
Karin Wandner	....	special thanks
David Wasco	....	special thanks
Dara Weintraub	....	special thanks
Alesia Weston	....	special thanks
Dana Wilson	....	special thanks
Gavin Wise	....	special thanks
Beverly Wood	....	special thanks
Janet Yang	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• IFC Films (presents) (as IFC Productions)
• FilmFour (presents)

Distributors

• Cathay-Keris Films (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Cinemien (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Fandango (2005) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2005-2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• IFC Films (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• MK2 Diffusion (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Stadtkino Verleih (2005) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Zeta Films (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Alamode Film (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Four Films (2006) (Chile) (all media)
• Homescreen (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Pacific Title Digital (visual effects)
• Videominds (visual effects animation) (as videominds)
• Constantine FX

Other Companies

• Academy Foundation of the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences  special support
• Albert G. Ruben and Company  insurance provided by (as Albert G. Ruben)
• American Humane Association, The  animals monitored by
• Benay's Birds and Animals  bird provided by (as Benay's Bird and Animal Rental)
• Bobby Weisman Caterers  catering (as Bobby Weisman Catering)
• CalArts Acting Students  special thanks
• Candy Corn Entertainment  footage: "Mix It Up" courtesy of
• Chrome & "R"  special thanks
• Ciego Wine  special thanks
• CineMart  special thanks
• Cline Entertainment  extras casting: Palmdale
• Corbis Motion  stock footage courtesy of
• Custom Film Effects  main titles
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color
• EFilm  digital intermediate (as E-Film)
• Everloving Records  soundtrack (uncredited)
• Filipino American Service Group  special thanks
• Footsteps Post-Production Sound Inc.  foley recorded at
• Global Entertainment Partners  digital color timing
• HD Cinema & Different By Design  high-definition post-production services
• HD-Cinema  high definition camera equipment provided by (as HD Cinema)
• Independent Feature Project  special thanks (as IFP/New York)
• Ladies of Facts and Figures  special thanks
• M-A-C  makeup provided by
• Mark Silverman Fellowship for New Producers / Sundance Institute  produced with the assistance of
• Miles Mogulescu Law Office  production legal
• Mondo Media  footage: "Happy Tree Friends" courtesy of
• Pacific Title  end titles
• Redken  special thanks
• Sony Post Production Facilities  special thanks
• Sundance / NHK International Filmmakers Award  supported by
• Sundance Institute, The  developed with the assistance of
• Surface Magazine  special thanks (as surface magazine)
• Terrific Teachers  studio teachers
• Townhouse Motel  special thanks
• Warner Bros. Pictures  special thanks
• Westside Production Services  electric equipment provided by

MPAA:

Rated R for disturbing sexual content involving children, and for language.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:R | Sweden:11 | Netherlands:MG6 | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Germany:6 | Italy:T | Argentina:13 | South Korea:15 | USA:R (certificate #41449) | New Zealand:R18 | UK:15 | Ireland:18

Filming Locations:

Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

IFC Films

Trivia:

Characters refer to "Laurelhurst" (misspelled on the computer screen as "Laurelhearst") and "Burnside". Both are notable areas in Portland, Oregon, where writer/director Miranda July used to live. Christine also receives a cellphone call identified as "M & F Dept Store" which probably stands for "Meier & Frank."

Goofs:

Continuity: While Peter and Robby are singing the hymn to Richard, they walk past the same white picket fence three times.

Quotes:

Peter Swersey: I'd live up there if I could, if there was no gravity
Sylvie: Yeah, but if you lived up there, all the stuff in my room would fall on you and crush you and you'd die

Movie Connections:

References Freaky Friday (1976)

Soundtrack:

A Stable Lamp Is Lighted

Passing time

Miranda July's "Me and You and Everyone we Know" was a surprise. It shows a new director with an inquisitive mind who doesn't get scared of tackling important issues. Ms. July shows a light touch to this story about the complex life of people trying to connect in this complex world we are living.

The center of the story focuses on Richard, a shoe salesman, who one sees at the beginning of the film in the process of separation from his black wife. He will keep the children, the teen age Peter, and the younger Robby. Little prepares him in the way his life will have to adjust with the new responsibilities. We don't get to see why the couple is splitting; they evidently fell out of love and she has decided to move on, while Richard is still trying to understand what happened to him.

The two boys are left to fend for themselves most of the time. As children will be children, they get involved in chatting on line. The exchange between Robby and his correspondent is hilarious. The young boy is way too wise for his young years. He is a city slicker and knows how to deal with the situation of the possible pedophile stalking him. At the end we get to realize who the person that has been chatting with him really is.

On a separate vignette we see Christine, a woman who does videos where she is the subject and the principal character. Christine also runs a car service for senior citizens in her area, but we mostly see her driving her old grandfather. Christine sees Richard at the store and she can't keep her eyes from him. Evidently it's love at first sight with the reluctant Richard.

One of the two other chapters in the film involves two aggressive and precocious teen age girls who go after one of Richard's co-workers who live in the neighborhood. And in the second we meet the lonely girl who loves to shop for the dowry that she will eventually have for when she gets married. She is a sad little girl who obviously lives in her own world without sharing anything with friends and neighbors.

The final film of the movie seems to be the key for understanding what is behind all what Ms. July has presented to us, so far. There is a man waiting at a bus stop tapping a coin against a side pole. Little Robbie who has had, almost what could have been a horrible experience, stands by this fellow and asks what is he doing. The answer: passing time, which seems to fit all the situations we have witnessed in the film.

The best thing of the movie is John Hawkes. He is a no nonsense actor that contributes enormously to the mood and all what we have seen in the film. Miranda July is also appealing as the lonely and quirky woman looking to fulfill her life with someone she can give her boundless energy and love. The two boys, Miles Thompson and Brandon Ratcliff are delightful to watch because they are normal kids and not the stereotypes one watches in main stream features.

Ms. July is a new voice to be reckoned with.