Daryl Wein started his film directing career at Staples. He went on to Tisch at NYU, and USC’s film and TV school.
Daryl honed his craft making indie films like “Sex Positive.” He broke out 2 years ago with “Breaking Upwards.”
Now — just 10 years out of high school — the multi-talented, mischievous director is taking the next big step.
“Lola Versus” is his 1st studio film. In addition to directing, Daryl co-wrote it with his long-time girlfriend, Zoe Lister-Jones. The cast includes Debra Winger, Greta Gerwig and Hamish Linklater.
Fox Searchlight releases “Lola Versus” in New York and Los Angeles this Friday (June 8). The quick synopsis:
Dumped by her boyfriend just 3 weeks before their wedding, Lola enlists her close friends for a series of adventures she hopes will help her come to terms with approaching 30 as a single woman.
The Hollywood Reporter called it “convincing in its depiction of late-20s romantic anxiety (if not of that age bracket’s real estate realities)… broadly appealing without bowing too deeply to formula.”
It adds:
The script is particularly strong in its last act, avoiding easy fixes and new romance and instead allowing its heroine to act out just enough to finally get tired of herself. Its solitude-is-okay message is hardly novel, but Wein’s comfortable way of reaching that point will resonate with viewers still trying to achieve that particular brand of enlightenment.
The competition is fierce. This is summer blockbuster time.
But with the right promotion — and a few breaks — Daryl’s deft touch could soon reach audiences all across the country.
(Click below for the trailer. Click here for a story on Daryl and Zoe from last Sunday’s New York Post.)