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Appropriate Behavior poster

Appropriate Behavior

Completed2014United Kingdom, United States86 min
Shirin is trying to understand how her relationship with Maxine fell apart while presenting a more reassuring version of her life to her Iranian…Read more +Read less −

Shirin is trying to understand how her relationship with Maxine fell apart while presenting a more reassuring version of her life to her Iranian family. In Brooklyn, work and dating give her ample opportunities to make the situation messier. She takes a job teaching children to make films, pursues new encounters and repeatedly returns to memories of the woman she has lost. Keeping her bisexuality private has consequences beyond avoiding an uncomfortable family conversation. The comedy follows a protagonist whose explanations are often less convincing than she hopes, balancing sharp social observation with the embarrassment of a difficult breakup. Shirin’s attempt to start again requires deciding which parts of herself she is prepared to acknowledge openly.

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ComedyDramaRomance

Sapphic characters & cast

Desiree Akhavan

Desiree Akhavan

as Shirin

Main sapphic character

Official platform credited performer publicity portrait
Rebecca Henderson

Rebecca Henderson

as Maxine

Main sapphic character

Gemini

Official platform credited performer publicity portrait
YOUR FIRST LOOK

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BEHIND THE SCENES

Details & credits

Country
United Kingdom, United States
Language
English, Persian
Premiere
2015-01-16
Runtime
86 minutes
Director
Desiree Akhavan

Exact-film official platform titled key art; rights pending

Artwork source & permission status

Editorial review approved — rights not independently confirmed

Exact-film official platform titled key art; rights pending

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Sources & editorial notes (7)

Last researched 2026-10-31. Editorially approved.

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