After Hours. Do the Right Thing. In the Heights. When Harry Met Sally. While these films each possess unique stories and vibes, they all represent the essence of New York. Now, this collection of essential New York cinema has welcomed Bunny.
Helmed by Ben Jacobson, Bunny narrates the tale of an East Village tenement dweller whose catastrophic birthday unfolds as a chaotic mosaic of community and characters that exemplify New York City. Like the iconic films referenced, Bunny captures the vibrancy of the city while celebrating its eccentricities. This delightful, humorous, and unexpected indie stands as a bold and unsentimental tribute to New York.
But what is it about?
Bunny tells the story of a hustler and the diverse community that cherishes him.
Co-writer Mo Stark takes the lead as Bunny, a resident of the East Village whose life—and cramped apartment—is extraordinarily frenetic. “Today I messed up,” Bunny reflects over home videos featuring his wife Bobbie (the sizzling Liza Colby), best friend Dino (co-writer/director Ben Jacobson), and their nurturing landlady Linda (Linda Rong Mei Chen). “I disrupted the lives of the people I care for most, my family.”
At the day’s outset, the main character is sprinting down the street. His long, unkempt blond hair streams behind him while blood trickles from his chin and beard, down his neck, and onto a cream-colored knit top. The reason for his flight remains unclear until later. However, it connects to his role as a “gigolo, like Richard Gere, though not quite that posh.”
Bunny does not halt to clarify the pandemonium. Instead, after cleaning the blood, Bobbie—dressed in sheer lingerie and a radiant smile—presents him with his birthday surprise: a threesome with her friend Daphne (Eleonore Hendricks) and “the finest Molly in the tri-state area.” Yet Bunny is not in the mood for festivities. There are matters to address.
Initially, an Airbnb guest named Happy Chana—never merely “Chana”—is set to occupy their spare room. As an Orthodox Jew, she (Genevieve Hudson-Price) has particular requirements that Bunny must fulfill, or risk losing the rental income. Then, while Bobbie is away, her estranged father (Tony Drazan) pays a visit, only to be swayed by Dino’s influence—and his edibles. Before Bunny can gather his thoughts, there are a couple of bodies to manage and a murder to conceal. It’s a dreadful birthday, but at least he has his family to see him through.
Chaotic humor makes Bunny extraordinary.
This East Village tenement is populated by vibrant characters who share little in common except their fondness for one another. Bunny and Bobbie are cherished by the straightforward Linda, impulsive but protective Dino, a spirited elderly neighbor named Ian (Richard Price), and a trio of twenty-something party girls, all of whom contribute to Bunny’s support during his worst birthday. Instead of concealing a homicide from them, Bunny lays a corpse of a “bad man” on the linoleum floor for a brainstorming session. How do they get rid of a body in such a lively neighborhood—especially with a pair of friendly cops (Liz Caribel Sierra and Ajay Naidu) loitering outside?
Stark, Jacobson, and co-writer Stefan Marolachakis craft a script that brims with life. Cultures intersect from scene to scene, reflecting the captivating melting pot spirit of numerous NYC neighborhoods. As a film driven by character, there are many minor disputes regarding birthday arrangements, roommate standards, and the best technique for fitting a corpse into a rolling suitcase. However, when it comes to aiding one of their own, these free spirits, neurotics, and eccentrics band together as the family they are, united by countless shared moments and energies.
The exceptional casting provides authenticity, steering clear of well-known faces and focusing on the dynamic and often volatile chemistry of the ensemble. While watching Bunny, New Yorkers may spot figures from their own communities and feel connected to this tenement, caught in the exhilarating whirl of excitement, rumors, and camaraderie. New York is a city of strangers who form families, and Bunny delves into these connections through an amusing and unpredictable family narrative. After all, what’s a corpse among friends?
Mo Stark shines in Bunny.
Frequently, when filmmakers pen and star in their own productions,