I watched “BEBE ZEVA” today and I really liked it.

I thought it was interesting as its own movie; it didn’t only appeal to me because it was filled with a bunch of people I follow and admire on the internet.

I found myself laughing really hard at the dynamic of the ~4 characters: Bebe’s forward and confident improvisation and cuteness in front of the camera, charming everyone and calling for all the attention; Lin’s voice from behind the camera, provoking Bebe while also seeming impressed by her wit/worldview, eager to keep up with her; Boyle’s ‘call-and-response’ to Lin’s characteristic diction, her reaffirming “yeah”s in response to whatever Bebe is doing; and Travis McFarland’s nervous remarks and awkward walking off screen.

I think McFarland’s presence in the film made me slightly nervous. He seems unnoticeable (aside from a few funny side-comments he makes in a quiet monotone,) until the end, when the vague fight between Bebe and Travis happens. The ‘fight’ between them seems revealing (maybe) of how Bebe’s confident carefree attitude can clash with people who feel more reserved or uncomfortable (“I don’t care about the things that you care about,” says Bebe, maybe in reference to Travis’ discomfort and awareness of his awkward presence in the film.) His character is vague and therefore intriguing, even Lin and Boyle don’t seem sure of what to make of his relationship with Bebe. Head-on shots of Bebe affectionately touching Travis’ face or something (with muffled audio and hushed mumbling from Lin or Boyle) seem to add an intriguing haziness to the film.

The most entrancing character-dynamic of the film, of course, would be the one between Bebe Zeva and Tao Lin. Bebe is so charismatic and witty due to her astute, ‘outside-looking-in’, observational knowledge/perspective of hipster culture, internet culture, and suburban teen culture. Tao Lin is a master of creating hilarious and surreal scenarios and he really gets a response from Bebe by (along with Boyle) asking weird ‘would-you-rather’ questions to her, among making her do other things. Lin provokes her into a funny situation, forces her to do something, or asks a ‘zany’ question and Bebe really knows how to run with it, to Lin’s (and the viewers’) delight.

Maybe what is most appealing about “BEBE ZEVA” is Bebe’s statement, which seems to fascinate Tao Lin and also be an overriding theme of the entire movie. “I think I just- I understand that life is bleak, and you can either kill yourself, or you can donate your existence to, like, social commentary.”

[you can buy “BEBE ZEVA” from MDMAfilms, here.]