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The Art of Symmetry (08/14/2007)

released: Aug 14, 2007

description: Paul puts the finishing touches on the pointillist mural in a Seattle office building. The building's owner, Leonard Randolph, commends him on a job well done. When he thoughtlessly drops a wad of hundred dollar bills as he and his wife admire the painting, Leonard allows Paul to keep the money as a tip.

Paul gets on his bike and pedals to a local artsy coffee shop. A commissioned job and a huge tip giving him confidence, he finally asks the barista Rebecca out on a date. He is interrupted, however, by his arch nemesis Claude Julien. Claude and his sidekick Rizzo spot the huge sum of money and taunt Paul for selling out. Embarrassed, Paul rushes out to his studio apartment, where he is reminded of his turn to the mainstream. His self-pity is interrupted by a call from his parents, who inform him that they are coming to see his work. This is followed by a call from Rebecca, who wants to make sure that he is okay, but their call ends suddenly when Rebecca runs out of change.

Meanwhile, Claude Julien rages to Rizzo in their abandoned warehouse. The two concoct a plan to ruin Paul's foray into the world of corporate art.

Paul is woken by his parents the next morning. They disapprove of his career choice and the city in general, but most particularly the choice of a vegetarian diet. They urge Paul to move back to Texas to attend missionary school. As they leave, Paul decides to find Rebecca and sets out to the streets. He soon discovers her handing out food to the homeless. Inspired, he returns home and paints what he saw. He then goes back out and asks Rebecca to join him for dinner.

Since Rebecca was hesitant at the idea of meeting his parents, compromises were made, and so Paul brings several homeless people to dinner with them. Paul's parents are taken aback, but the dinner is eventless, although Claude and Rizzo lurk in the kitchen unbeknownst to the diners. The two take advantage of the distraction and sneak into Leonard's building. There, Claude and Rizzo diabolically paint out every third dot so that the pointillist painting cannot be truly seen as intended.

The next morning, Paul is horrified to discover his painting defaced. His parents, Rebecca, and Leonard Randolph are also disappointed by what he has produced, and all of them float away. Paul is crestfallen, but finally realizes that he must connect the dots. He spends the evening repainting the mural.

The next morning, Leonard ushers Claude into the building, only to discover Paul there, a large sheet covering his work. Leonard informs Paul that Claude will be repainting the wall. As Paul asks Leonard to wait to see the finished piece before he hires Claude, a distinguished figure appears from a limousine. It is Vivian Crestwood, owner of the building and lover of fine art, and she would like to see Paul's mural. As Paul prepares to show her, Mrs. Randolph, his parents, and Rebecca unexpectedly enter the building. With this audience assembled, Paul unveils his reworked mural.

What was a citrus grove is now a painting of Rebecca feeding the homeless. Vivian Crestwood immediately asks Paul to paint murals in her thirty-five other office buildings. His parents tell him they think he is following the right path, and will no longer pressure him into missionary work. Rebecca is touched and flattered, and accepts when Paul asks her to move in. The Seattle skyline glitters on in symmetrical harmony.

cast & crew:

comments:

This is my second favorite movie.

-- Jason R. Chin, Director on Aug 15, 2007

trivia:

• This was Bob Ladewig's last show with Our Feature Presentation before moving to Portland, OR.
• Although Paul Cezanne (1839-1906) and Claude Monet (1840-1926) were contemporaries, Cezanne is considered to be a Post-Impressionist while Monet is considered an Impressionist.
• the last piece of music heard during this movie is ''Please Please Let Me...'' from Ferris Buellers Day Off. It's the music at the museum where they also contemplate a pointillist painting.

quotes: