It’s a real treat for Gulbenkian cinema-goers for us to hold this special pre-release screening of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s directorial debut. Hoffman is perhaps the defining actor of the US Indie scene of last fifteen years, starring in everything from Magnolia to Capote, from The Talented Mr. Ripley to The Ides of March (the latter also playing here in November). Known for his intelligence and wit as an actor, here Hoffman has managed to distil this same essence in his first feature as a director with this witty tale of love, betrayal, friendship and grace centered around two working-class New York City couples.

Hoffman plays Jack, a New York limousine driver full of external bluster but lacking self-confidence and quietly longing to find love. Clyde (John Ortiz) is his fellow limo driver and only real friend. Clyde and his wife Lucy (Daphne Rubin-Vega) are struggling on in their marriage under the spectre of infidelity, but still in love and determined to make things work between them. The pair take it upon themselves to take Jack’s non-existent love life in-hand and set him up with their friend Connie (Amy Ryan).