Fellow Gopher and host of “Subway Takes,” Kareem Rahma’s feature film debut “Or Something” screened at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival last Thursday.
Co-writing, co-producing and co-starring in the film alongside actress and comedian Mary Neely, Rahma said the film is a classic mumblecore, New York walk-and-talk movie inspired by genre greats like “My Dinner With Andre” and “Before Sunrise.”
The plot of the film centers around Olivia and Amir, two unrelated New Yorkers who show up at the same time to collect $1,200 from their mutual friend Teddy, an unreliable slacker played by comedian Brandon Wardell.
Amir, an advertising agent who dreams of publishing a graphic novel, is played by Rahma as a neurotic, yet down-to-earth millennial with the comedic quirks of both Harold & Kumar. Olivia is a younger grocery store clerk proud of her individuality and strength.
During a post-screening Q&A, Rahma and Neely said Wardell showed up to shoot without knowing the script, and they were genuinely frustrated with Wardell like their on-screen counterparts. Wardell still gave a hilariously great performance, despite not knowing the script.
In the film, Teddy sends Olivia and Amir on a wild goose chase after a man named Uptown Mike, who he says will have their money. The pair end up spending the day together as they search for Uptown Mike, played by David Zayas.
Most of the film revolves around Olivia and Amir’s conversations on topics like feminism, religion and family. The pair frequently share conflicting viewpoints and spend a lot of time exchanging witty remarks.
Based on Rahma and Neely themselves, Amir and Olivia’s differences complement each other, a dynamic that drives much of the movie’s action. Neely and Rahma wrote the script by meeting up and having arguments they would later write into the film’s dialogue, and much of it feels very natural.
Amir and Olivia take turns monologuing and arguing about their views on sex, gender, race, class and what Rahma calls the millennial condition. The film perfectly blends the heavy drama of its more introspective and philosophical themes with great comedic moments through the constant banter between characters.
By the end of the film, Amir and Olivia’s connection feels very real, making its drawn-out twist ending all the more moving.
“Or Something” is a must-see for fans of films with intimate conversations, deadpan comedy and mythical depictions of New York City.
