Behind the Scenes of “See You When I See You” with Jay Duplass, Cooper Raiff, Kaitlyn Dever, and David Duchovny at Sundance Studio
"See You When I See You" Premieres, Highlighting Grief Through Humor
Eccles Theatre, January 27 — The film See You When I See You, directed by Jay Duplass and based on Adam Cayton-Holland’s memoir Tragedy Plus Time: A Tragi-Comic Memoir, made its debut, exploring the complexities of loss and healing. The narrative follows Aaron, portrayed by Cooper Raiff, a young writer grappling with the death of his sister and best friend, Leah, played by Kaitlyn Dever. Through a mix of humor and flawed coping mechanisms, Aaron navigates the deep psychological impact of his grief.
“I hadn’t made an original movie in 10, 11, 12 years… I was realizing I was ready to come back to making movies,” Duplass remarked about his return to filmmaking. He praised the script for its ability to evoke laughter and tears, acknowledging its challenging subject matter while emphasizing its humor. “Sometimes the lightning strikes and you get the call, and you’re like, it’s scary, but if I don’t do this then what am I even doing here?” he added.
Screenwriter Adam Cayton-Holland expressed his desire to share his story in a new format. “I wrote the memoir, and that was gut-wrenching and hard but also beautiful… I went to film school, and so I just took a shot at it,” he stated. His collaboration with producers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, known for their work on The Big Sick, further shaped the film’s direction. “Clearly this story is very pressing and important to me,” Cayton-Holland noted.
Actor Cooper Raiff shared the intimate atmosphere on set, describing how closely he connected with the material. “On set, people would sometimes call me Adam, and I liked that… it felt personal to me the whole time,” he said. Reflecting on poignant moments, he mentioned the emotional weight of having Cayton-Holland’s father, portrayed by David Duchovny, present during filming.
As audiences engage with See You When I See You, the film aims not only to entertain but also to provoke thoughtful discussions about grief and the human experience.
