American performance artist Miranda July’s first film ‘Me and You and Everyone I know’ won the special Jury Prize for Originality of Vision at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. I couldn’t think of a more apt opening description of this fine film.

July’s film works a bit like a human chain which makes the film’s title so appropriate. July herself plays Christine, a struggling multimedia artist who drives elderly people around for a living. She becomes linked with Richard, a divorced shoe salesman with whom she is romantically involved. Richard has two sons, Peter and Robby, who he finds difficult to handle. These two boys become involved with two teenage girls, Heather and Rebecca, in the neighborhood. These two girls strike an unusual relationship with a lonely older boy. And the human chain continues…

July’s film takes audiences behind what looks like an ordinary suburban setting to show the intricate human relationships underneath. This film was so refreshingly un-Hollywood in style, with all the characters looking and behaving like ordinary people. Like me and you…

‘Me and You and Everyone I Know’ has some golden moments. I love films where surprising connections are made. Such is the case when Richard’s youngster Robby, not much more than 5 years, arranges a park bench meeting with an older woman, with whom he has been chatting on the internet. The woman, when she realises the mistake that has been made, kisses him gently and then walks away.

Definitely one for my DVD library.