Desiree Akhavan is a name to remember. In the breakthrough queer cinema movie Appropriate Behavior, Akhavan plays Shirin, a socially awkward, bi-sexual, twenty-something, haplessly wandering through life as she deals with a broken heart. After being forced to move out of the one-bedroom Brooklyn apartment she shared with her girlfriend Maxine (Rebecca Henderson), Shirin makes it her mission to get over her former flame, while simultaneously plotting revenge through encounters she thinks will make her ex jealous. When that fails, because ultimately, all revenge plots do, Shirin is left in her own head in this deadpan comedy, and her existential crisis is fully realized for our enjoyment.

The lead actress is also the director and screenwriter, and while balancing three of the film’s most demanding roles may seem certainly taxing, Akhavan sure does a good job of making it look easy. Cinematically, Appropriate Behavior is not a demanding watch, and on the same coin, the script reads like witty banter Akhavan might have with her friends, making this film seem like the perfect territory to showcase her talents.

I say that only in the highest of regard, Akhavan is making a name for herself on her own by creating content that appeals to the cool kids and the outsiders, the freaks and the geeks, all wrapped up in this contemporary film Appropriate Behavior, just as [Lena] Dunham has done in the past…

Shirin’s behavior throughout the film is anything but appropriate, giving this title a play on words and an instant laugh. There are many awkward family situations she finds herself in, especially since she has yet to come out to her parents, claiming that the apartment and bed she and Maxine shared was a new “European” trend to save money. Further discomfortingly funny behavior is seen when Shirin is invited over for a three-way by a man she meets at a bar. While not really into guys, she does her best to give him random pecks on the chest, but with his girlfriend, she can’t help herself from being too passionate. Things get awkward when the man finally catches on to the situation, making this one of the film’s more cringeworthy, but memorable, scenes.

Everyone (e.g.: Vulture) is saying that Akhavan is the Persian equivalent of Lena Dunham (It was announced that Desiree will be joining season 4 of Girls with a reoccurring role). I would have to agree, and I say that only in the highest of regard, Akhavan is making a name for herself on her own by creating content that appeals to the cool kids and the outsiders, the freaks and the geeks, all wrapped up in this contemporary film Appropriate Behavior, just as Dunham has done in the past (with her feature Tiny Furniture, and now Girls). The large tattoo that covers her arm a lá Lena (which I would hope is just a coincidence) is the typical trademark of a New York hipster, which Shirin definitely is. Her fast-talking nature, her self-critical demeanor, and her all around quirkiness plays a bit familiar on-screen, but there is no denying that she can capture the audience’s attention and keep it.

As a filmmaker, Akhavan understands the genre and culture of today’s DIY society and plays to that audience. This quirky, lesbian comedy isn’t just a nod to LGBT, there is also a lot of talk about being Persian. Sometimes, too much. Sprinkled throughout the cunning dialogue between her ex, her bubbly and flamboyant best friend Crystal (Halley Feiffer) and even her semi-employer, full-time stoner friend Ken (Scott Adsit), the “I’m so different, I’m Persian” card is played one too many times. The first time, it’s genuinely funny, but the sixth time, not as much. But overall, this film is not only a great achievement for Akhavan, it is a thoroughly entertaining and genuinely funny film that is just the beginning of great things for her career, as a writer, director, and actor. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdfcKGKNa04