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Writer-director-star Lena Dunham does quite a lot with very little in this comedy, which recently picked up three Independent Spirit Award nominations.
Dunham plays Aura, a recent college grad who has returned home without a clue as to how to proceed with her life. She moves back in with her art-photographer mom (Laurie Simmons, Lena's real-life mom) and high-schooler sis (Grace Dunham, Lena's real-life sister) in the family's Tribeca loft (portrayed by the family's real-life Tribeca loft).
Aura endures a dead-end job, parties with her flighty friend Charlotte (Jemima Kirke) and flops through a non-sexual relationship with a guy (Alex Karpovsky), whom she invites to freeload in her family's apartment.
Dunham's plot of the aimless graduate is one of indie-film's oldest cliches (perpetuated by film-school grads with no life experience), and on occasion she too obviously references Woody Allen.
But Dunham has a painter's eye for composition (aided by cinematographer Jody Lee Lipes) and a delightfully absurdist sense of humor.
"Tiny Furniture" should allow Dunham to graduate to bigger things. HHhj
Tiny Furniture
Opens Friday, Dec. 17, at the Tower Theatre; not rated, but probably R for sexual content and language; 98 minutes.