Films & Events

The Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle

Local filmmaker David Russo’s debut feature is truly a one-of-a-kind film experience. Simultaneously cynical and life-affirming, Russo’s comedy manages to incorporate biochemical engineering, corporate chicanery, drug addiction and high-art pretension—all while maintaining an amiable, insouciant charm. After Dory is fired from his corporate job, he’s forced to take a “brown-collar” position cleaning office toilets with a pack of janitorial misfits. Accepting of his search for spiritual and human connection, the group quickly becomes his adoptive family. They make the most of their nights by helping themselves to whatever goodies are left behind by the daytime office staff. But when they unwittingly become the subject of a product-testing experiment by one of the companies in the building, they begin to experience some very unusual hallucinations and other side effects. These visuals provide a great platform for Russo’s innovative visual design and animation skills, as well as those of Dutch animator Rosto. Little Dizzle is spiritual quest in sheep’s clothing; a complex film of ideas disguised as a shaggy-dog comedy. Beneath its constant visual invention, the film creates a quirky, playful world which questions the lines between trash and treasure, and asks what one should try to hold onto in our increasingly disposable society, and what one should let go.

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Sponsors:
4Culture, 97.3 KIRO FM, Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, Washington State Arts Commission

Cast & Crew

Director: David Russo
Producer: Peggy Case
Editor: Billy McMillin
Screenwriter: David Russo
Cinematographer: Neil Holcomb, Benjamin F. Kasulke, David Russo

Music: Awesome
Principal Cast: Marshall Allman, Vince Vieluf, Natasha Lyonne, Tania Raymonde, Tygh Runyan
Filmography: Debut Feature Film

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(5 reviews)

User reviews

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    Local film doesn't disappoint, kind of..., May 17, 2009

    By dmitrineilovich

    “This started off great. We watch as an office drone, finally fed up with the banality of his job and co-workers, finally flips out, bawls out, and heads out. His one buddy hooks him up with a janitorial job and the quest for self begins. The film takes a strange twist when a company begins” … full review

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    Refreshing and creative, May 24, 2009

    By zhwang

    “Black comedies with unusual visual elements tend to be plagued by two problems: One, when substance is sacrificed in favor of style; two, when the story gets too strange for its own good and loses all its color and steam before the end is in sight. It's impressive that "Little Dizzle" by and large” … full review

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    See this film!, May 24, 2009

    By nlitven

    “It's funny, strange, smart, and touching. Well written, acted, edited, and directed. You will laugh. What more do you need?”

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    Kind of great, May 27, 2009

    By Tsarcasm

    “Like a mixture of Fight Club and Office Space, with hallucinations throw in for good effect. The first half of the movie is well-written, and well-acted. But after the hour mark the movie is plagued with unnecessary scenes, a meandering pace, and an inability to sustain the dark humor.”

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    2020's cult classic, Jun 11, 2009

    By SIFF Lover

    “For the rest of the year and probably into next, film buffs will call 2009 the Year of Humpday. In 2020 and beyond, long after Humpday is a forgotten yield sign along the indie film highway, 2009 will be remembered as the year Little Dizzle premiered. I don't mean to take anything away from” … full review

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Screenings

SIFF Cinema
May 23, 2009 4:00 PM
4:00 PM (Date has passed.)
Egyptian Theatre
May 24, 2009 9:30 PM
9:30 PM (Date has passed.)