Harmony and Me (2010)

My recent viewing of 'Francis Ferguson: The Substitution' (2019) led to a further exploration of the work of director Bob Byington, many of whose films are currently available for free on Amazon Prime. 'Harmony and Me' (2010) looks much smaller budgeted then 'Francis Ferguson' but the sensibility and style is there. This indie made in Bob Byington's native Austin features a number of his recurring acting company, the most famous of which is Nick Offerman who doesn't show up until near the end. 

The basic story is very simple, Harmony (Justin Rice) is some kind of computer programmer in Austin, in his late 20's he has just experienced a breakup with his girlfriend of a year (Kristen Tucker, so breakup devastation more then understandable) and the film chronicles his various efforts and failures to cope with the assistance of friends, family, and an odd neighbor girl. The film kind of wanders loosely but that very much works for it, again very dry humor, some of the dialogue delivery itself devastating. 

Like the character Francis Ferguson, Harmony is allergic to chocolate (I sense a directorially autobiographical motif). At one point in despair Harmony tries to eat his way through a box of Valentine chocolate and ends up in a coma for five days at the hospital. There is a moment where the odd girl is visiting Harmony while he is still comatose, she is telling him a story which sounded familiar, it took a little bit but I eventually realized it was the plot to the 1978 movie Coma. I could have died, it was so funny to me. Having been in a coma myself and having a dry sense of humor it was practically like I wrote the thing. Needs to say I really enjoyed it, but needless to say not for everybody. ***