1 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
90 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Appropriate Behavior
"Being without a cliché to hold onto can be a lonely experience."
2015 1h 30m EN
😐
6.3
MID
★6.3TMDB · 112
ComedyDramaRomance
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Shirin is struggling to become an ideal Persian daughter, politically correct bisexual and hip young Brooklynite but fails miserably in her attempt at all identities.
“Being without a cliché to hold onto can be a lonely experience.”
Cast
Desiree Akhavan
Shirin
Rebecca Henderson
Maxine
Halley Feiffer
Crystal
Ryan Fitzsimmons
Brendan
Anh Duong
Nasrin
Hooman Majd
Merhdad
Arian Moayed
Ali
Justine Cotsonas
Layli
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Desiree Akhavan
- Writers
- Desiree Akhavan
- Languages
- Persian, English
- Countries
- United Kingdom
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Released 11 years ago.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Persian, English.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Desiree Akhavan, shot by Chris Teague. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Josephine Wiggs. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Sara Shaw shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Desiree Akhavan and Rebecca Henderson and Halley Feiffer carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
ERA
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "Being without a cliché to hold onto can be a lonely experience.".
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Desiree Akhavan directs. Chris Teague behind the camera. Josephine Wiggs scores. Sara Shaw cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in Persian, English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 190 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
- 2Released 11 years ago.
- 3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Persian, English.
- 4Directed by Desiree Akhavan, shot by Chris Teague. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 5Original score by Josephine Wiggs. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 6Editor Sara Shaw shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 7Desiree Akhavan and Rebecca Henderson and Halley Feiffer carry the top of the cast.
- 8Marketing tagline: "Being without a cliché to hold onto can be a lonely experience.".
- 9IMDB entry: tt3077108 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 10Classified under 14 themes, including "new york city", "bisexuality", "lesbian relationship", "loneliness".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Chris Teague
- Original score
- Josephine Wiggs
- Editing
- Sara Shaw
- Production design
- Miren Marañón
- Costume design
- Sarah Maiorino
- Makeup / hair
- Rachel Estabrook
- Runtime
- 90 min · 1h 30m
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
Also by
Desiree Akhavan
Trailers & featurettes
Watch the pieces
Production companies
Who made it
Parkville Pictures
GB
Key crew
- EditorSara Shaw
- Costume DesignSarah Maiorino
- CastingAllison Twardziak
- Executive ProducerLucas Kaempfer
- Executive ProducerOlivier Kaempfer
- Executive ProducerKatie Mustard
- Line ProducerJonathan Montepare
- ProducerCecilia Frugiuele
- Executive ProducerHugo Kaempfer
- Production DesignMiren Marañón
- Set DecorationAmy E. Bishop
- Assistant Makeup ArtistRachel Estabrook
- Makeup Department HeadJessica Padilla
- Assistant Makeup ArtistTara Zielenski
- First Assistant DirectorLaura Klein
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- new york city
- bisexuality
- lesbian relationship
- loneliness
- relationship
- urban setting
- brooklyn, new york city
- cunnilingus
- threesome
- lgbt
- twenty something
- woman director
- iranian american
- persian american
Release history · US
When it landed
- Premiere2014-01-18· Sundance Film Festival
- Digital2015-01-16
Also known as
International titles
- Appropriate BehaviourGB
