Breaking Upwards (2009)

61% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
57% of users liked it
(838 ratings)

Their marriage turning stifling after just four years, a young New York couple attempts to escape their ennui by carefully strategizing their own breakup. Blurring the lines between fiction and reality, real-life couple Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister-Jones star as themselves in order to offer an… More Their marriage turning stifling after just four years, a young New York couple attempts to escape their ennui by carefully strategizing their own breakup. Blurring the lines between fiction and reality, real-life couple Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister-Jones star as themselves in order to offer an unguarded exploration of young love, lust, and the hardships of codependency. By exploring alternatives to monogamy, creating arbitrary rules for their relationship, and doing everything in their power to avoid getting emotionally bruised, Daryl and Zoe attempt to discover a means of growing apart, together. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Daryl Wein
Written By: Daryl Wein, Zoe Lister Jones, Peter Duchan
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Apr 2, 2010 Wide
On DVD: Oct 12, 2010
Studio: IFC Films

Critic Reviews

Tom Russo, Boston Globe
Scenes meant to play as breezy and hip are more often just annoying.
Walter V. Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle
Breaking Upwards has its amusing and touching moments, but we're left wondering just what we're supposed to make of it all.
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times
Comes knocking at the door like a wolf in sheep's clothing, draping reality in a fictional romantic comedy about a twentysomething NYC couple named Daryl and Zoe whose relationship is coming apart.
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com
While Alex Bergman's photography is often impressive, Wein's editing has the short attention span of a Hollywood movie, without the accompanying cocaine rush.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
Much ado about a very rote situation, with a hammy excess of New York Jewish shtick (lead offender: Andrea Martin as Zoe's kvetching mom).
Kyle Smith, New York Post
Watching this movie is no more interesting than talking to any random New York couple about what makes them tick.
Michael C. Walsh, Boston Phoenix
Wein's debut feature is kind of a mess: he withholds and warps the emotions of the main characters till there's little sympathy to be had. But though this tactic is usually enough to derail a film, it works here...
Mike McGranaghan, Aisle Seat
Whiny and self-indulgent.
Clint O'Connor, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Yes, it's a little low-budget loopy. But that's part of its charm. Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein explore new relationship-ending methods with wry indie flare.
Janos Gereben, Entertainment Insiders
As with most films about young love won and lost, Breaking Upwards comes from a place of genuine pain, honesty, and most importantly, delusion.
Sara Maria Vizcarrondo, Boxoffice Magazine
A comfy, up-tempo view of the New York indie-verse that has strong regional flourish, feeling less like a glamour shot of NY and more like a view of the city that never sleeps from a well worn studio with a big bed.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
heads and tails above the rest of the "New York Hipsters in Love" movies that have come out lately.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
centers around a pair of three-dimensional, neurotic, interesting characters and has a strong, certain rhythm that sets it apart.
Joseph Jon Lanthier, Slant Magazine
Makes one yet again wonder why filmmakers continually attempt to create art that will last out of relationships that didn't.
Aaron Hillis, Time Out New York
What stings throughout this stutter-stop relationship are the spot-on modern details, but the overall hipness is a little too forced -- it's damn funny when it could've been poignant.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Alice S

A stagnant couple orchestrates an incremental break-up, spending less and less time with each other to cushion the emotional blow. This is a legit indie: low budget, mundane humor, leads who are attractive but certainly not glossy and shiny enough so that the audience has… More
A stagnant couple orchestrates an incremental break-up, spending less and less time with each other to cushion the emotional blow. This is a legit indie: low budget, mundane humor, leads who are attractive but certainly not glossy and shiny enough so that the audience has expectations. When Daryl and Zoe finally end it, it really hurts.
Shawn E

A realistic depiction of both the hardships and growth of a breaking relationship.
Walter M

"Breaking Upwards" starts with Zoe(Zoe Lister-Jones, who wrote, produced and come to think of it does remind me a little of Kristin Scott Thomas) and Daryl(Daryl Wein, who directed, wrote, produced and edited) having sex. But this is not the hot, sweaty, furniture wrecking… More
"Breaking Upwards" starts with Zoe(Zoe Lister-Jones, who wrote, produced and come to think of it does remind me a little of Kristin Scott Thomas) and Daryl(Daryl Wein, who directed, wrote, produced and edited) having sex. But this is not the hot, sweaty, furniture wrecking sex of their early relationship, it is the desultory missionary position four years into their relationship sex at a point when they are otherwise totally comfortable with each other. They decide to spend some time apart during the week to bring more energy into their relationship and mutually agree Tuesday has to be one of their together days, so they can watch "American Idol" together which might explain a thing or two.(What? No "Lost" or "The Good Wife?") This way they also have more time to pursue their respective callings. Daryl is struggling as a writer while taking in extra income as a babysitter. Zoe is an actress who auditions for commercials where she competes against amazons, while rehearsing for a play off-off-off Broadway. While definitely rough around the edges, "Breaking Upwards" is also warm, witty and knowing in its exploration of relationships and their boundaries without any unnecessary car chases. The movie also makes great use of New York City locations, including one scene on Sixth Avenue just down the block from where I watched this. In this city, these characters are at a point where their lives are slowly coming together, post college. In the meaintime, their parents have formed an extended family with each other and are still a huge influence. This can be both a good and a bad thing as they are always there for comfort, food and laundry services but can also set a bad example for the couple.
Quinto W

This is the kind of movie that will mostly, if not only, resonate with people who have been in the same situation as these two characters - which I imagine are far more folks than they would care to admit.

Cast

            Daryl Wein as Daryl

            Zoe Lister Jones as Zoe

            Julie White as Joanie

            Olivia Thirlby as Erika

            Peter Friedman as Alan

            Andrea Martin as Helaine

            Pablo Schreiber as Turner

            La Chanze as Maggie

            Heather Burns as Hannah

            Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Dylan

            Francis Benhamou as Lindsay

            Sam Rosen as Sam

            Toby Burns as Toby

            Tate Ellington as Brian

            Max Jenkins as Frosh

            Alexander Gil as Tolan

            Will Frears as Director

            Maggie Burke as Aunt Barbara

            David Call as Hot Bartender

            Harmon Walsh as Hot Bartender

            Roger Del Pozo as Casting Director

            Bryce McDonald as Stage Manager

            Jenn McNeil as Asst. Manager

            Marlouse Borm as Dancing Model

            Shelly Zander as Theater Model

            Becca Kannapell as Yoga Teacher

            Aaron Burns as Funny Yoga Guy

            Ashley Lambert as Yoga Girl

            Audrey Wauchope as Waitress

            Ray Iannicelli as Man at Synagogue

            Rodrigo Lopresti as Boy at Party
See full cast