I wish I could preview this film for you, but sadly, I have not been able to watch the movie. (I dropped the ball at getting ahold of the film in time.)
My Heart Is an Idiot is directed by David Meiklejohn, and it is his first full-length feature film project. It stars Davy Rothbart as he road trips across the United States in a van, searching for love. Rothbart is the founder of FOUND Magazine, a printed collection of discarded notes and photographs, and is a “tortured romantic,” looking for advice from a multitude of sources (all filmed in this documentary), including Newt Gingrich, Zooey Deschanel, and Ira Glass.
From the press release: “All of the situations in the documentary are unique in their own right, but anyone watching it will see a bit of himself or herself in there too. We’ve all triumphed and failed in similar ways.” Meiklejohn promises, “Although love is the central subject, the film is not sentimental or serious. It’s upbeat and funny with some dramatic twists.”
My Heart Is an Idiot begins at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 27, at Allen Hall (all are welcome.) Both Meiklejohn and Rothbart are attending the screening, and there will be a brief talk afterward. Prequel to Ebertfest? Well, not really, since it starts an hour after the first film of Ebertfest (Metropolis). But with a total running time of 94 minutes, and free tickets, it seems like something worth checking out. Don’t just believe me though, watch the trailer for yourself and decide: