Liberal Arts

– Newly single, 35, and uninspired by his job, Jesse Fisher worries that his best days are behind him...

Type:
Movie
Rating:
6.70 / 10
Duration:
One Hour and 37 Minutes
Release Year:
2012
Liberal Arts (2012)

Newly single, 35, and uninspired by his job, Jesse Fisher worries that his best days are behind him. But no matter how much he buries his head in a book, life keeps pulling Jesse back. When his favorite college professor invites him to campus to speak at his retirement dinner, Jesse jumps at the chance. He is prepared for the nostalgia of the dining halls and dorm rooms, the parties and poetry seminars; what he doesn’t see coming is Zibby – a beautiful, precocious, classical-music-loving sophomore. Zibby awakens scary, exciting, long-dormant feelings of possibility and connection that Jesse thought he had buried forever.

Story Timeline:
Producing Country:
USA
Filming Locations:
Editor's Pick for:

Liberal Arts (2012) - Trailer

Release Date:

05 Oct 2012

Language:

English

MPAA Content-Rating:
PG-13 – Parents Strongly Cautioned

Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Parents are urged to be cautious. Some material may be inappropriate for pre-teenagers.

Director:

Josh Radnor

Writer:

Josh Radnor

Main Actors:

Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen, Richard Jenkins, Allison Janney

Plot:

Thirty-five year old Jesse Fisher, an admissions officer at a New York City post-secondary institution he who loves English and literature, has somewhat lost his passion in life, which includes recently being unceremoniously dumped by his latest girlfriend, who could no longer be the person to prop him up emotionally. He has a chance to find that passion again when he is invited to the retirement dinner of his second favorite Ohio University college professor, Peter Hoberg, as his time there was when his life held the most passion. Jesse's encounters with five people there may determine if he does find that passion again. They are: Hoberg, who is resisting the notion of retirement; Judith Fairfield, Jesse's favorite professor, although for a different reason than his like of Hoberg; Nat, a free spirit who navigates life at the institution on his own terms; undergraduate student Dean, who Jesse sees as a younger more destructive version of himself; and nineteen year old undergraduate student Zibby, who is seemingly wise beyond her years and with who Jesse embarks on a relationship despite their sixteen year age difference.

Awards:

7 nominations.

Gross profit:

$317,190

Production:

IFC Films

Ratings:
Internet Movie Database:
6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes:
70%
Metacritic:
55%