Performance artist Miranda July's accomplished, bittersweet feature debut weaves together the stories of various lost and lonely suburbanites struggling to connect in southern California. Shoe salesman Richard (John Hawkes) is so distraught when his wife dumps him, he sets fire to his own hand. Literally and figuratively scarred, he's hesitant to respond to romantic overtures from kooky artist-cum-cab driver Christine (writer/director July, in a striking series of retro 1980s blouses). Some viewers might feel a little uncomfortable about subplots involving Richard's teenage son Peter (Miles Thompson) discovering oral sex and even younger Robby (Brandon Ratcliff) entering into a salacious online relationship with a stranger. However, July handles such material with sensitivity and respect as well as humour. Although the offbeat independent movies that become hits at the Sundance film festival feel all too common currency these days, this particular example stands above the rest for its sharp writing and abundant heart.

Single dad Richard meets Christine, a starving artist who moonlights as a cabbie. They awkwardly attempt to start a romance, but Richard’s divorce has left him emotionally damaged. Meanwhile, Richard’s sons—one a teenager, the other 6-years-old—take part in clumsy experiments with the opposite sex.