Love stories come in all shapes and sizes. This one just happens to come with a Mr. Microphone duct-taped to the side of someone’s head.
Utah filmmakers Rhett and Burke Lewis cowrote and co-directed this curiously engaging story of a 20-something couple—Archie (Rhett Lewis) and Sophie (Candyce Foster)—whose relationship seems to have an antagonistic side right off the bat. She wants to know what it’s like to slap someone; he wants to spit in her face. Affectionate gestures of that kind take a back seat, however, when Archie decides to “kidnap” his deaf brother Billy from their sister for a day of irresponsible shenanigans, like riding a couch down a hill.
The Lewises go for a “mumblecore” vibe and meandering narrative that’s not for every taste, but the performances and editing effectively capture a couple of people having as much difficulty communicating with each other as with Billy. Catch the Utah premiere, including a concert by soundtrack contributor Paleo.
Billy Was a Deaf Kid @ Tower Theatre, 876 E. 900 South, 801-321-0310, April 7, 7 p.m. TowerTheatre.com