THE PUFFY CHAIR
US, 2005, 85 minutes, Colour.
Mark Duplass, Kathryn Aselton, Rhett Wilkins, Julie Fischer, Bari Hyman, Larry Duplass, Cindy Duplass.
Directed by Jay Duplass.
Some of the small-budget American independent films are an acquired taste. You sometimes feel that you have suddenly become like a bus passenger inadvertently listening in to a conversation. You don’t know quite what it is about. It is younger adults absorbed in their own lives and problems which may or may not be particularly interesting to those who don’t know them – or to those who do.
But, The Puffy Chair is not like that. Yes, these are twenty-somethings and they do tend to be rather self-absorbed but the characters are well-written and well-played that we don’t mind spending the time with them, even putting up with them when they are irritating or act stupidly.
This is a kind of Duplass family film. Mark is the main actor and co-writer. His older brother Jay is the director and co-writer. Their parents are executive producers and act as well – and may have put up some of the money for the small budget.
It is a slight story where the Puffy Chair (here a second-hand LazyBoy) serves as both a quest and a sign of contradiction. Josh and his girlfriend Emily love each other but have their tense moments. He can be crass and insensitive. She can be oversensitive and demanding. When they go to collect the puffy chair, bought on EBay, as a gift for Josh’s father’s birthday, they pick up younger brother Rhett, who tends to live in the clouds. A number of humorous and serious episodes happen along the way – and quite a number of frustrations to do with the puffy chair.
Because the characters, despite their faults, are played with feeling, the audience does share the journey and the tensions and some insights into human nature.
1.An entertaining short film? The blend of the serious and the comic? Insights into human nature, behaviour?
2.An independent film, the limits, budget, locations, cast, camerawork, style, editing, musical score? The overall effect of this kind of communication?
3.The involvement of the Duplass family, writing, acting, directing, the parents, production? A personal film and story?
4.The title, the chair as a gift, as real, as a disappointment, as a cause for fighting, as a demand, as fixed, as giving bad vibes, as burnt, as a means for detachment?
5.The focus on Josh and Emily? Together, the meal, talking, in themselves, the bonds, in love, the phone call, Emily’s irritation, Josh’s crass statements, Emily rushing out? The issue of the job, the travel, Emily going with Josh? Emily’s anger, the plates, leaving? Josh and his appeal, not realising how crass he was?
6.Emily waking, Josh outside, the trip, the invitation, the plan, bonding, talking? The tensions in their relationship? Expressions of love or not? Playful? Emily’s demands – and Josh’s insensitivity?
7.Rhett, making the film about the insect, the watching of the film, Josh not interested, Emily appreciating it? Discussions, Rhett and the distance from the family, his father’s birthday, the decision about the chair, Rhett wanting to go, Emily’s reaction, Rhett asleep in the back of the van?
8.The motel incident, Josh and his meanness, the lies, acting out with the motel manager, creeping into the room, Emily in the room, Rhett in the back of the van, wanting to go to the toilet? Their being caught, Josh offering the money, their being ousted?
9.Going to the factory, the owner putting it over Josh about the chair, yet Josh as being a liar? The chair itself, the confrontation, going outside, the angers?
10.The day in the town, going to the cinema, Rhett and his looking at Amber, going off with her, lost? Emily and Josh, the meal, in bed, deciding to go out and find Rhett? The announcement of the engagement, toasting, the speeches, the wedding and the text? Commitment? Rushed? Emily’s response, Josh presiding?
11.Josh and Emily and the tensions, Josh going out, the breakfast, Rhett and his leaving Amber, exchanging email addresses, not meant to be, Emily’s disbelief, her despair about men, the travel?
12.Rhett going to the factory, for the upholstery, the audience not having seen Josh’s demands on the owner, the man not wanting to let him in, Josh and driving the van to the door? Taking the chair? The vibes, Rhett and his reaction, the motel, Rhett burning the chair, Josh’s anger, the tackle, the hospital, his broken arm? The invitation to be detached from the chair?
13.Arrival home, the father and mother and their greeting, Josh talking with his father about relationships, the father’s story about his meeting his mother, knowing that they should be together, his advice?
14.Josh and Emily in the park, talking about the break-up – and their final embrace? What would their future be?
15.Strength of characters, foibles, real, males and females, love and commitment, the open ending – the audience supplying the ending?
