Film4 is about to have a season of so-called 'mumblecore' films; for those not in the know they are ultra-indie, talky, relationship-oriented, virtually plot-free, and normally filmed with an overt realism.

The directors, notably Andrew Bujalski, Joe Swanberg, Jay Duplass and Aaron Katz all seem to know each other and appear in each other's films. It is a pertinent question, though, to wonder why there is not yet a prominent female director from this supposedly modern movement. It does also seem a somewhat closed scene - why for example does Alex Holdridge's wonderful In Search of a Midnight Kiss, which shares many of the mumblecore traits, not seem to get classified as such? (And does it matter?)

The most heralded, at least in the UK, seems to be Bujalski, but my two favourites of the films (having now seen quite a few) are Jay du Plass' The Puffy Chair, which is much funnier than any of the others, and also has far more of a plot than most (even if that's just going to fetch a chair bought on ebay); and Aaron Katz's Quiet City which is utterly beautifully filmed and something of a New York take on Linklater's Before Sunrise/Sunset.

Anyway, it's well worth catching these if you haven't yet seen them. Even the least good of them has something to offer.

Whoever came up with the name "mumblecore" should be gassed like a badger.

I think I read it was Bujalski who coined the term in an interview.

Cheers Jimski. I've set the controls to record Funny Ha Ha, Quiet City and The Puffy Chair.

I noticed this in the trailers prior to Escape To Victory this evening, but have to agree with Inca that it's a fucking stupid name for a genre of film.

"Mumblecore"? Sounds like the bastard child of The Charlatans and Black Flag.

Actually, that sounds great, now I come to think of it....