Screening: Sunday, May 19th, 4:45pm
Written & Directed by Riley Stearns
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola, & Imogen Poots
Running Time: 104 minutes
Synopsis:
A dark comedy set in the world of karate. The film centers on Casey (Jesse Eisenberg), who is attacked at random on the street and enlists in a local dojo led by a charismatic and mysterious Sensei (Alessandro Nivola), in an effort to learn how to defend himself. What he uncovers is a sinister world of fraternity, violence and hypermasculinity and a woman (Imogen Poots) fighting for her place in it. Casey undertakes a journey, both frightening and darkly funny, that will place him squarely in the sights of his enigmatic new mentor.
“The Art Of Self-Defense is a singular work, brimming with ideas, by a budding visionary with a hell of a lot to say.” – Randall Colbun, Consequence of Sound
“A darkly comic look at toxic masculinity.” – Ryan Oliver, The Playlist
The Chicago Critics Film Festival 