Cinemad: Rick Alverson

Rick Alverson’s new film THE COMEDY is not necessarily a comedy. Depending on your limits for satire, many scenes will make you laugh while you might be cringing or even angry at other scenes. As we follow 30-something Swanson (Tim Heidecker) in his privileged yet aimless leisurely days, the ante gets upped when he stands to inherit his Father’s estate. Forced with the first major change in life, he and his friends (among them Eric Wareheim, LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy and comedian Gregg Turkington a.k.a. Neil Hamburger) strive for connection and an understanding of the world – not by hip, gleeful emoting but through testing the limits of society and common taste with possible punishment at every turn. It’s a strong, timely film. Cinemad talks with Alverson about making the film and testing audiences for the right reasons.