Peter and Vandy show what a true love story is

Romantic relationships are cute, fluffy, nice, sweet and can be the ultimate hell once you really get to know whom you are dating.

In 2009’s Official Sundance Film Festival Selection, the independent film Peter and Vandy starring Jason Ritter and Jess Weixler, we see how a picture perfect relationship can easily turn awry and how both parties have to give and take in order to make the relationship work again.

Set in present day New York City viewers meet Peter (Ritter) and Vandy (Weixler), a couple whose love story is told completely out of order giving viewers the effects, feelings and frustrations the two characters are feeling towards one another.

Except Director Jay DiPietro executes this out of order film so perfectly that it keeps the viewer constantly wondering what will happen next and how the relationship between Peter and Vandy got so messed up.

With superb editing and cinematography it’s very easy to get sucked into the film and be left wanting more since it is only 85 minutes long.

Piece by piece the story begins to come together. Unless you are able to put together movies very quickly, it may take more than one viewing to fully grasp the entire story.

Originally the movie was written as a play also written and directed by DiPietro. He was also the original casting for Peter in the play that ran for four months in New York.

It achieved a Drama Desk nomination for best play and the screen adaptation, DiPietro’s cinematic directorial debut, received a nomination for a 2009 Sundance Grand Jury Prize. Peter and Vandy opens this Friday Oct. 9 in theaters in New York and Los Angeles.

The Pace Press was able to get a closer look into Peter and Vandy by interviewing Ritter and Weixler:

The Pace Press (TPP): What attracted you to the roles?

Jason Ritter (JR): There was a lot about Peter I felt I understood. More roles are confident and cool. There was a lot about Peter I identified with. It was more authentic than the flaws. A lot of films are sort of postering.

Jess Weixler (JW): Very true, it related to life, it made relationships and love complicated rather than butterflies, it brought out habits Vandy had and they were real.

TPP: How did the first run through go, especially when acting together for the first time?

JR: First run throughs went  well. Casting was done in meetings. We were able to listen to one another. I had my first panic attack but overall it went well.

JW: We just met and shot right away. Jay felt confident in what we did. The chemistry came in and felt quite organic and true.

TPP: Did you try out for another role and end up getting the lead?

JW: I did not audition. It was literally a meeting between Jay and I. It was kind of cinematic after it was over. I went outside, it was raining; I lost my shoe when I was getting into the taxi-cab and Jay picked it up for me.

JR: Yeah, pretty much without the rain and shoe. We just talked about the character. Particularly men in the world and values, it was a really great meeting and I really liked the script. I called my agent and asked him to do anything to get it for me. Jay gave it to me. Jay is also an actor [and] played Peter originally in the play and rewrote the entire thing.

TPP: How was it working with Jay DiPietro?

JW: He didn’t seem objective. He was a caring director.

TPP: Did you alter any scenes once you acted them out?

JW: For the most part it was scripted. The break-up that was worked it felt too cinematic. Break-ups are kind of like “f” it because there is so much there to sort through.

JR: Relationships take time.

TPP: Have either of you played similar roles?

JW: I don’t think I have played anything similar to Vandy. I haven’t done anything this realistic, kind with depth and maturity.

JR: Same thing, closest to a man I’ve ever played to be an adult and be responsible.

TPP: How flexible was the set?

JW: The set was totally comfortable. Great indie film crew, everyone was there because they wanted to be.

JR: Very caring, we were always taken care of.

TPP: Was the movie shot in order?

JR: It was shot in order and it really helped as Jess and I got to know each other.