The Moxie opens with 'Me and You'

Musician/photographer/performance artist turned screenwriter/actress/director Miranda July scores big for the true spirit of independent film and makes a stunning debut as an auteur with “Me and You.”

It’s hard to describe a film as – in turns – hilarious, sweet, touching and innocent (nearly to the point of naïveté) when the subject matter includes a 7-year-old involved in an online “sex chat” room, two teenage girls practicing a certain sexual act on a teenage boy and a man who lights his hand on fire to amuse his kids. There’s another guy who leaves salacious notes taped to his window for the aforementioned girls, a neurotic art curator with a melancholy secret and a 10-year-old girl who shops at department stores for items to put in her hope chest.

It may sound like an X-rated video, but NOTHING could be further from the truth. July’s screenplay has not one second of gratuitous sex or violence. While the subject matter may make some people uncomfortable, the presentation is heartfelt and possesses a palpable air of tenderness. That combination makes “Me and You and Everyone We Know” a film that defies description. You must see it to understand.

July plays Christine, an offbeat artist trying to get her work shown at the local museum. She’s also looking for true love. Her wants and needs are rather off the beaten path, but she finally meets someone she believes to be a kindred spirit. He’s Richard, a shoe salesman at the mall who looks constantly befuddled. He also has a bandaged hand.

Richard has two sons, the boys mentioned above. His co-worker is the note scribe and the two teenage girls are their neighbors.

The characters ebb and flow in and out of the film, and relationships form across many angles.

In the end things work out. Who knows if they work out for the best? But they work out.

It does no good trying to describe a film that relies so much on quiet emotional power that seeps off the screen and into the viewer’s head. All I can say is there’s a reason “Me and You and Everyone We Know” won the Special Jury Prize for “originality of vision” at Sundance, as well as the Camera d’Or for best first film and the Critics’ Week grand prize at Cannes.

The film, which runs through Oct. 4, marked the opening of Springfield’s newest movie theater, the long anticipated Moxie.

The Moxie is owned and operated by Dan and Nicole Chilton, a couple whose youth belies their love and knowledge of film.

Many people seem to have the notion that independent movie theaters are run by and inhabited with arty/nerdy film snobs who belittle regular folks with comments like, “You’ve really never seen Cocteau’s ‘The Blood of a Poet?’ That is unfortunate.”

The Chiltons are nothing of the sort. They just love good movies.

After frequenting Columbia’s Ragtag Cinema, they decided Springfield might be ready for something similar.

Renovating the former bank building at 408 W. Walnut took more time and money than expected, but the wait was well worth it. The theater is crisp, clean, friendly and comfortable. There’s seating for 75, and while the screen is small, the image is bright and clear. Having worked in movie theaters before, the Chiltons know the value of a well-maintained projector outfitted with a good lamp. The sound system is fine as well, with surround speakers on the side and a sub-woofer.

Besides the size of the place and the films featured, you’ll notice a couple of other things that are different at The Moxie.

First, there’s an intermission. This is due to the fact that the theater has but one projector and it can only hold 70 to 80 minutes of film. So when Reel 1 is over, Dan has to thread up Reel 2. This gives patrons a chance to hit the restrooms without missing any of the film.

You’ll also want to visit the concession stand, known as The Cinebar. There you’ll find popcorn (of course) with a variety of seasonings to go on top, sodas (Fitz’s bottled in St. Louis), coffee from the Mudhouse and … beer and wine. No kidding. To go with your glass of wine there are gourmet munchies from Colleen Smith’s Tea Bar & Bites. It sure beats the heck out of Gummi Bears.

The Chiltons maintain a great Web site at www.moxiecinema.com featuring upcoming films, information about the theater, forums and an informative blog.

Movie lovers in Springfield have long complained that smaller, independent films never seem to make it to town. Now is the time to put your money where your popcorn goes.

“Murderball,” the acclaimed documentary about quadriplegic rugby players, is currently showing at The Moxie. Opening Oct. 5 is Jim Jarmusch’s “Broken Flowers” starring Bill Murray. For more information, call The Moxie at (417) 429-0800.

Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.

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