Appropriate Behavior
Appropriate Behavior is a 2014 romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Desiree Akhavan in her feature directorial debut, in which she also stars as the protagonist Shirin, a bisexual Iranian-American woman living in Brooklyn.[1][2] The film centers on Shirin's struggles following her breakup with her girlfriend Maxine, as she grapples with cultural expectations from her traditional Persian family, personal identity, and a series of awkward sexual encounters in an effort to rebuild her life.[3][4] Akhavan, drawing from semi-autobiographical elements, employs a deadpan comedic style to explore themes of bisexuality, immigrant family dynamics, and urban millennial disaffection, blending humor with poignant observations on relationships and self-discovery.[3][4] The narrative unfolds non-linearly, highlighting Shirin's flawed decisions and interactions with roommates, colleagues, and fleeting romantic interests, culminating in a raw portrayal of emotional vulnerability without tidy resolutions.[2] Critically acclaimed upon release, the film garnered a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 62 reviews, praised for its authentic voice, sharp wit, and Akhavan's multifaceted performance, though some noted its uneven pacing and indulgent tone.[2] It received nominations including the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Limited Release in 2016 and recognition at the Gotham Awards for Best First Screenplay, establishing Akhavan as a notable voice in independent queer cinema.[5][6] Despite modest box office returns, Appropriate Behavior has been lauded for its candid depiction of bisexual experiences and cultural hybridity, influencing subsequent works in diverse storytelling.[4][3]Production
Development and Writing
Desiree Akhavan wrote the screenplay for Appropriate Behavior as her master's thesis project at New York University, marking the origins of her feature directorial debut.[7] The script drew inspiration from Akhavan's personal experiences as an Iranian-American bisexual woman, including the aftermath of her first serious relationship with a woman and her gradual coming-out process to her immigrant family, though she emphasized that the events, characters, and specific incidents were fictionalized rather than directly autobiographical.[8] [9] Akhavan described the writing as a cathartic exercise to process feelings of otherness and post-breakup disorientation, aiming to create a subjective narrative that captured universal awkwardness without adhering strictly to real-life chronology.[8] The initial draft was completed in one month, followed by revisions over the course of a year in collaboration with producer Cecilia Frugiuele, who received a "story by" credit.[10] [9] This process involved reading scenes aloud to test dialogue and incorporating select personal anecdotes for authenticity, while balancing early absurd humor with more grounded emotional depth in subsequent drafts.[10] [9] Akhavan developed the script concurrently with shooting the second season of her web series The Slope, spanning approximately two years in total.[8] Structurally, the screenplay emulated Woody Allen's Annie Hall by employing a non-linear, vignette-style approach to depict protagonist Shirin's fragmented emotional state.[10] Thematically, Akhavan sought to subvert expectations of somber Iranian or lesbian cinema, rejecting "sad fiddle" victim narratives in favor of flawed, comedic realism influenced by the intimate tones of films by Julie Delpy, Sarah Polley, and Noah Baumbach.[11] [10] She populated the script with observations from her Brooklyn surroundings, such as Park Slope's parental culture, to ground Shirin's voice as a composite of her own heightened traits at age 25—combining self-deprecating humor derived from family dynamics and American sitcoms like Full House.[11] [9]Casting
Desiree Akhavan, who wrote and directed Appropriate Behavior, cast herself in the lead role of Shirin, a bisexual Iranian-American woman navigating post-breakup life in Brooklyn.[1] This self-casting drew from Akhavan's own experiences, as the film semi-autobiographically explores themes of cultural identity and sexuality, allowing her to infuse the character with personal authenticity.[8] The production, a low-budget independent feature with a premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 17, 2014, relied on a tight ensemble of theater and emerging film actors to capture the film's intimate, improvisational tone.[12] Akhavan collaborated with casting director Allison Twardziak, selected for her grasp of the film's quirky, culturally specific world blending Persian immigrant family dynamics with New York queer subcultures.[10] Twardziak's approach prioritized performers who could embody the script's naturalistic dialogue and emotional nuance without over-rehearsed polish, aligning with Akhavan's vision influenced by her background in theater and web series like The Slope. Supporting roles were filled by actors from stage backgrounds, emphasizing chemistry over star power; for instance, Rebecca Henderson was cast as Maxine, Shirin's ex-girlfriend, bringing a grounded intensity from her off-Broadway work.[13] Halley Feiffer portrayed Crystal, Shirin's roommate, leveraging her experience as a playwright and performer in indie projects.[14] Other key cast included Ryan Fitzsimmons as Brendan, a fleeting romantic interest; Anh Duong as Nasrin, Shirin's mother, providing cultural specificity through her Vietnamese-American heritage adapted to the Persian role; and Scott Adsit as Ken, adding comedic relief with his established television presence from shows like 30 Rock.[1] Additional performers such as Hooman Majd as Mehrdad and Arian Moayed in supporting parts contributed to the familial and social ensemble, with selections favoring versatility for the film's episodic structure over typecasting.[15] The casting process, completed amid a modest $500,000 budget, reflected indie filmmaking constraints, prioritizing affordability and collaborative rapport to facilitate on-set improvisation.[10]| Actor | Role | Notable Background |
|---|---|---|
| Desiree Akhavan | Shirin | Writer-director; prior web series The Slope |
| Rebecca Henderson | Maxine | Theater actress; off-Broadway credits |
| Halley Feiffer | Crystal | Playwright and indie film performer |
| Ryan Fitzsimmons | Brendan | Emerging actor in comedy roles |
| Anh Duong | Nasrin | Model-turned-actress; family drama experience |
| Scott Adsit | Ken | 30 Rock veteran; voice work in animation |