The misleadingly titled “Break-up Date” is a fairly absorbing documentary about the experiences that people have had in various singles scenes.  It also examines the different options people have used to find  the right person or a quick hookup. 

“Break-Up Date” will play at the Gene Siskel Center in Chicago on June 26-July 1. It will show on Friday, Tuesday and Thursday at 6:15; Saturday at 4:45 and 8:15, Sunday at 3 pm only, and Monday and Wednesday at 8:15. The director, Collin Souter, will appear in person at the 8 pm Saturday screening for an audience discussion about the film.

Much of the film is comprised of easy-to-relate-to interview material.  This film uses some famous (and some less familiar) Chicagoans as interview subjects, and it should prove especially interesting to people that live in our city. To see a trailer for the film go to http://www.myspace.com/breakupdate.

Some of the interviewees share their depressing and/or humorous hard luck stories about dating. One woman discusses how she had her heart set on a man who turned out to be gay. Another woman talks about how she discouraged a man from pursuing her, but then she was shocked and disappointed when he never called again (She assumed that all guys will call again). A third woman talks about how a man immediately turned her off with a tasteless flatulence joke (But it really stunk).  

In addition, Jillian Straus, the Oprah show producer and author of the bestselling book, “Unhooked Generation: The Reason Why We Are Still Single” shares her observations about how the recent technological revolutions have negatively affected dating and single life. She argues that overreliance on technology can damage romance, and that people who are constantly talking on cell phones, surfing the net and/or answering texts have problems establishing intimacy with potential mates. Surprise, surprise!  

“Break-Up Date” also explores the type of mentality that can develop when people rely on on-line singles social networks like eharmony.com and match.com.  Straus suggests that people that use these sites have so many choices that they see choosing a mate the same way they would pick food when they are grocery shopping. They may also reject good potential catches because they begin to think that there will always be someone else with better traits.  The selection process can become as routine and unromantic for them as choosing a dinner off a menu.

Nick Digilio is a well known film critic/radio personality who gives clever film commentaries on WGN.   He is known for championing many films that other critics disparage (Sorry Nick, but I still hate "Critters.") He has also attacked Valentine's Day on the show. His web page is at http://www.wgnradio.com/shows/nickd/

Digilio shares one of his experiences and feelings about being single in the film. Digilio claims that if you are over 40 and unmarried, many people in our society see this as sort of weird.  

He also discusses how he took a date to see “Dead Ringers,” a film about two drug addicted, murderous twins (The film is worth seeing, just not on a first date.) He admits he had done the whole thing as a kind of test, and of course she reacted very negatively to the film (perhaps “Santa Sangre,” "Basket Case" or "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" might have worked better).

One of the other interesting Chicago participants is Kitty Mortland, a talented and extremely eclectic musician/singer (She describes herself as being like the secret lovechild of Danny Elfman, Liz Phair and Janis Joplin on her myspace page). Mortland had also played a role in the film, “Dancing with Gaia." 

 In "Break-up Date,” she complains that she since she has mostly hung around with artists and musicians, she is sick of people that are primarily focused on rebelling against the world. She also is frustrated by unfocused men who “have no idea what they’re doing.”  

 Mortland provided a catchy song that is used to good effect at the end of the film (To see her lively music videos and hear her music go to http://kittymortland.com/).

Not every interview subject is as interesting.  The only other major criticism I have of the film is that the chapter headings are superfluous, and they give the film the look of a textbook for preschoolers (or Single Social Networking for Dummies.”)

But overall,  “Break-up Date" is informative and contemporary, plus it usually deals with its subject (which is intrinsically interesting) in a thoughtful and entertaining manner.