top of page
1/4
KISSING JESSICA STEIN
2001 / 97 mins
DIRECTOR
Charles Herman-Wurmfeld
Jessica Stein (Jennifer Westfeldt), is searching for the perfect man. Instead, she discovers the perfect woman in this romantic comedy.
Jessica Stein is a sensitive but neurotic New York journalist who also happens to be at the end of her emotional rope. Her brother's engaged her best friend's pregnant, she hasn't dated in a year, and she can't sleep. After an optimistic but nightmarish dating spree, she happens upon an intriguing personal ad.whose only drawback is that it's in the "women seeking women" section. On a daring whim, she decides to answer it, and meets funky downtown hipster Helen Cooper. A lively evening of banter, connection and heated debate culminates in a kiss that confounds and intrigues even the reluctant Jessica. Kissing Jessica Stein is a modern romantic comedy that breaks all the rules, blurring the lines between friendship and romantic love, and finding the funny, surprising and ultimately poignant overlap between the two.
PRESS
"The film, exuberantly directed by Charles Herman-Wurmfeld, keeps springing surprises. Westfeldt and Juergensen are smart, sexy knockouts, finding just the right mix of fun and tenderness in their writing and performances. Scott Cohen excels as Jessica’s boss and former lover. And Tovah Feldshuh, as Jessica’s confused, devoted mother, can nail a laugh and break your heart with effortless grace; she’s perfection. Every once in a while, a movie comes out of nowhere to kick up your spirits. Don’t kiss this one off — it’s a winner."
– Rolling Stone
"Director Charles Herman-Wurmfeld's movie knows what it wants, what its limits are, and delivers its delights accordingly."
– Newsweek
"The movie swings from witty to poignant to sexy, without ever looking like it’s trying too hard... and the acting by both the principal and supporting cast members is generally excellent... a ground-breaking and entertaining film."
– After Ellen
"What neither the trailers nor the newspaper features written about Kissing Jessica Stein will have prepared you for is quite how funny it is."
– Observer UK
"The cast is wonderful and the story is commendably free of the sectarian us-versus-them tone of many romantic gay movies."
– Chicago Reader
SELECT FESTIVALS
Toronto International Film Festival 2001
Los Angeles Film Festival 2001
Edmonton International Film Festival 2002
Norwegian International Film Festival 2002
Deauville Film Festival 2002
Warsaw Film Festival 2002
Miami Film Festival 2002 – Audience Award
New Zealand International Film Festival 2002
Brisbane International Film Festival 2022
Queer Lisboa 2003
Febio Film Festival 2003
WHERE TO WATCH
bottom of page