AT HOME BY MYSELF... WITH YOU
/
2009
DIRECTOR: KRIS BOOTH
CINEMATOGRAPHER: MARK BOCHSLER
WRITER: RAMONA BARCKERT & KRIS BOOTH
BUDGET: $40,000 CAD
GROSS:?
At Home By Myself... With You is a small Canadian film I discovered back in the day on Netflix Canada (not sure if it’s still there). Now, don't let the "quirky" "romantic" Netflix tags scare you off. We all know that romantic comedies - quirky or not - are generally predictable by nature, not always that interesting and often not really that funny. But, it doesn't have to be that way, as At Home By Myself... With You proves.
Also, I remember clicking the "quirky" link back then and saw that Netflix had also tagged And Justice For All, Adaptation and Young Frankenstein with said tag. So, who really knows what "quirky" means/meant to them?
Romy is a women who, as we learn from the opening voiced-over animation, has many phobias, from opening boxes to going outside. And by "going outside" I mean literally taking one step out of her apartment - something she hasn't done for six years. Then a guy moves in next door... okay, so you know where this is going. But, as predictable as the destination may be, the ride is enjoyable.
The filming style, the voice-overs, that opening animation, the score and the supporting characters all create a feel to the film that is like a children's story - or some kind of fairy tale? A story about the girl stuck in her apartment who falls for the charming and sweet always-on-the-go guy across the hall.
Kristin booth is great as Romy. She’s sweet and quirky (ya, I said it), but without becoming a caricature. It's interesting: Romy is the "oddest" character in the film and yet she, and the guy across the hall, are what keep the film grounded in reality and make the emotional moments valid for the audience.
Also, in case you were interested in the quirky-factor, but wasn't sure how it compared. It’s a little quirkier than Easy Rider (another film that, for some ridiculous reason, was listed under my Netflix "quirky" suggestions).