Everything is Wonderful

Everything is Wonderful is the story of a new friendship between two European immigrants, Maria (Tonia Sotiropoulou) and Lena (Pia Mechler), spanning one intense week in New York. They struggle to find happiness as they test the limits of their freedom and friendship. Living a life without financial burdens, German-born Lena becomes increasingly bored with her seemingly carefree life in her beautiful Brooklyn apartment. Maria, a former Greek soap opera star, now waiting tables, mourns her unfulfilled dreams of being an actress in New York, while feeling the pressure of settling down in a traditional married life, despite her preference for short-lived affairs. Everything could be wonderful, but somehow it isn't. After Lena discovers her husband cheating, Maria and Lena move in together and launch a crazy week of partying. But nothing really changes and soon old patterns of dysfunction and destruction creep back into their lives, keeping them stuck in their passiveness. Things escalate when Maria has an awkward, misogynistic audition and Lena receives a surprise visit from her successful lawyer sister. Maria and Lena decide to flee to the Hamptons. There, the beautiful nature contrasts their crass behavior and forlornness. Just when they finally begin to address their real issues, their friendship takes an unexpected turn.

---

Direction: Pia Mechler

Co-direction: Stephanie Angel

Script: Pia Mechler

Cinematography: Elizabeth Casinelli, Hollis Meminger

Editing: Pia Mechler

Sound: Engin Ufuk Kaplan, Lena Vassiliou

Actors: Tonia Sotiropoulou, Pia Mechler, Alexis Georgoulis, Hannah Herzsprung, Michael Gentile, James Coker, Teddy Griffith, Ron Brawer, Hollis Meminger, Phyllis Pastore, Betsy Winslow, Clemens Brandt, Tyron

Producers: Kim Dang, Stephanie Angel, Pia Mechler, Keith Marlin

Co-production: DCS, Big Vision Creative

Costumes: Pia Aung

Executive producer: Clemens Brandt, Hollis Meminger, Erwin Mechler, Minh Quy Dang

Sets: Radka Salcmannova

Make Up: Joan Gray

Format: DCP

Color: Color

Production Country: USA, Greece

Production Year: 2017

Duration: 79'

Contact: Kim Dang kimqdang@gmail.com

Pia Mechler

Pia Mechler, the director, writer, and lead actress of Everything is Wonderful, has worked in the film business for over 10 years. Of German, Chilean, Polish and Scottish heritage, Pia Mechler speaks four languages and began her career in front of a still camera as a model. At 19 she moved to Denmark to attend the prestigious European Film College. Her first part on British TV was in The Color of Magic alongside Sean Astin and Sir Jeremy Irons in 2008. In 2009 the lead role of Gaby in the British indie Invisible Eyes followed and earned her raving critiques. In 2010 she moved to NYC. She is the author of Remisuri, published by Shelff Books (Germany). She wrote, directed and starred in the web series Almost Settled. Everything is Wonderful is Pia’s feature film debut as a director. As an actor, Pia can next be seen in Weinstein’s The Upside, alongside Kevin Hart and Brian Cranston.

Filmography

2017 Everything is Wonderful