‎Breakfast with Curtis (2013) directed by Laura Colella • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd

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Syd is an eccentric bookseller with delusions of grandeur fueled by red wine. He caused a rift 5 years ago between his bohemian housemates and the family next door, but now tries to recruit his 14-year-old neighbor as a collaborator.

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Review by Constance_Prue

Letterboxd 6th Season Challenge 2020-21 list
2. nominated for the independent spirit John Cassavetes award

A gratifying little indie that I swore was filmed in Portland, OR, with its aging hippies, brightly-colored Queen Anne houses, and communal vibe. (it's actually Providence, RI, but uncannily similar). The story of Syd, an irascible middle-aged bookseller who likes his rosé and berating the neighbors. At least that's the opening premise. Director Laura Colella lets the plot unfold from there, as it goes in a much gentler direction, with a blooming friendship between Syd and shy young neighbor Curtis, with a cast of counterculture artists in tow.

Review by James Diamond 1

I have a confession to make. When I read that Breakfast with Curtis was a micro-budget indie film about some quirky characters, and filmed in the writer/director’s house with her friends and neighbours playing the main roles; well, let’s just say I was apprehensive about spending ninety minutes in their company. I’ve turned off too many wilfully quirky films with larger budgets and recognisable actors over the years to have held out much hope of this film being any good.
And sometimes the most wonderful feeling in the world is being proven utterly wrong.

The film opens on the type of incident most children will have experienced, when 9-year-old Curtis (Jonah Parker) is verbally abused and threatened by his neighbour…

Review by Jake Cole

So delicate I was afraid my screener would collapse like a soufflé if I made a noise during it, but it's so well-observed—about crotchety old hippies, New Age fuck buddies, introverted teens (actual introversion, not that romanticized or self-pitying version but just an honest depiction of social anxiety that tries to overcome itself)—and so benign in treating its goofy, mockery-inviting types that I couldn't help but feel a fondness for it. Also, I have a friend who's relative basically does what Syd does in this (this person even calls their vlog "Breakfast with ____" as well, so I couldn't stop laughing at his burned-out, scattershot ramblings.

Review by russman

That kid is a giant

Review by Bob 2

Breakfast with Curtis is a seminal-summer story for Curtis, a boy of 13.

Curtis is intelligent and talented, but doesn't talk or show much interest in social interactions. His family lives next to "the Purple Citadel", an unofficial artists' commune of sorts where the inhabitants grow their own produce, sell and smoke weed, play ping pong, and practice yoga and tightrope walking.

It's the kind of place I think I'd enjoy visiting, even though I appreciated the comment of Curtis' father who refers to it as pretentious.

The main "character" in the group of artsy eccentrics is Syd. Five years prior Syd disturbingly threatened Curtis for a perceived slight against Syd's cat. Perhaps unknowingly (he may be a little too…

Review by hugh 1

showed this to dani and they fell asleep :/
has been in my top 4 for forever and I doubt will ever make it in to anyone else’s. Probably my 6th rewatch.
an incredibly comforting movie about a bunch of hippies doing hippie shit and raising a kid. I can understand finding it grating or pointless, not a lot happens in its runtime - but for me a story about growing up aided by a family of weird annoying freaks is about what I need once a year. I want that house. I wish my landlady was like that. i wish I had beat freaks around growing up to play ping pong with.

Review by gabbsg

a very charming little slice of life about community and being a fuckin weirdo.

i want what syd and pirate have - drinking wine, wearing minimal clothing, and yapping in my beautiful lush garden with the love of my life all day

Review by prewarlemonade

The city I live in now, Somerville, MA, is chock full of multi-family Victorians and oddballs who hold concerts on their porches. They live near Powderhouse Square and go to the Unitarian Universalist Church with the giant pride flag out front, or to Quaker meetings. They work in gardens, (their own or shared community spots,) and share the proceeds. They make art and invite randos into their homes to enjoy during Open Studios, or start offbeat community theater companies. Their houses are porous, full of books and neighbor kids and notions. They're often geeky or polyamorous or engaged in some other subculture considered degenerate by the straights. Very high potluck to person ratio. (They also tend to be white and…