Desiree Akhavan got a lot of praise for her film Appropriate Behaviour, which she wrote, directed and starred in. Now though she’s heading to the UK, as Channel 4 has signed her up for the comedy web series, The Bisexual.
Appropriate Behaviour followed Akhavan as Shirin, a second-generation Iranian-American bisexual, searching for a new direction in life and juggling her identities. The Bisexual may cover some of the same themes.
Here’s the synopsis: ‘New Yorker Leila (Akhavan) is feeling lost in London. Recently part of an uber-cool power couple, she’s now split from girlfriend Sadie and is struggling to adjust. Moving in with a “stranger off the internet” she soon discovers she’s swapped her luxe old life (think: high quality condiments, plus a girlfriend who sorted all of the Life Admin) for a house-share with Gabe, a British guy who’s only ever other female “flat-mate” was his mum.
‘Gabe doesn’t know any lesbians and Leila’s not got too much experience of hanging out with heterosexuals – their worlds collide in deeply awkward and revealing ways as he becomes her unlikely wingman and helps her to navigate her new life dating men. Offering an outsider’s view of Britain, The Bisexual is brimming with weird and wonky slices of urban life only apparent to those living on a temporary work visa, struggling to keep up with the discrepancy between what the English say versus how they actually feel. Leila is part brave, part reckless, 100% shameless and is embarking on a romantic Choose Your Own Adventure, trudging through the hell of dating – gay and straight.’
Channel 4’s Deputy Head of Comedy Nerys Evans, comments: “We are thrilled to be working with Desiree on her series The Bisexual. She has such a brilliantly unique viewpoint on finding love in your 30s. We love her candid observations, both on being an outsider in a strange city as well as the sexual politics encountered when you are neither straight nor gay. She’s honest, authentic and brilliantly funny in her delivery.”
Akhavan meanwhile says: ”Getting to play in the sandbox with such intelligent collaborators at Sister Pictures and Channel 4 is an absolute dream come true. They’re the perfect partners in crime for a taboo sex comedy. And by that I mean they’re all perverts.”
It’s not clear when the series will air.
