Belle & Sebastian frontman's movie hits same notes as his music

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Actress Elisabeth Moss, with the film “The One I Love.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Melissa Benoist, from the film “Whiplash.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Michael Winterbottom, left, and actors Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, with the film “The Trip to Italy.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Steve Coogan, with the film “The Trip to Italy.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actors and co-directors Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, from the film “What We Do in the Shadows.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Musician Nick Cave, subject of the film “20,000 Days on Earth.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Sara Colangelo, with the film “Little Accidents.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Elizabeth Banks, Jacob Lofland and Boyd Holbrook, with the film “Little Accidents.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Boyd Holbrook, with the film “Little Accidents.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Elizabeth Banks, with the film “Little Accidents.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Jacob Lofland, with the film “Little Accidents.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Amy Carlson, from left, Matt Walsh, Meredith Hagner, Jason Ritter (front, arms open) director David Cross (hiding behind), Erinn Hayes, Jake Cherry and James Adomian, with the film “Hits.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Meredith Hagner, with the film “Hits.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Jason Ritter, with the film “Hits.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Erinn Hayes, with the film “Hits.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Amy Carlson, with the film “Hits.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor James Adomian, with the film “Hits.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Kate Barker-Froyland, actresses Mary Steenburgen and Anne Hathaway and composers Jonathan Price and Jenny Lewis, with the film, “Song One.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Matt Walsh, with the film “Hits.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Mary Steenburgen, with the film “Song One.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor and producer Mark Duplass, with the film “The One I Love.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Kurt Russell, with the documentary “The Battered Bastards of Baseball,” about his father, Neil Oliver “Bing” Russell. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Thomas Balmés, of the documentary “Happiness.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Brit Marling from the film “I Origins.,” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Chaz Ebert, left, and director Steve James with the documentary. “Life Itself,” about the late film critic Roger Ebert. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Astrid Berges-Frisbey from the film “I Origins.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Lea Thompson with the film “Ping Pong Summer.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Michael Pitt with the film “I Origins.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Bill Hader with the film “Skeleton Twins.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Mike Cahill, director of the film “I Origins.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Imogene Wolodarksy, left, director Maya Forbes, actress Ashley Aufderheide and actor Mark Ruffalo with the film “Infinitely Polar Bear.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Zeresenay Berhane Mehari and actress Meron Getnet with the film “Difret.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Imogene Wolodarksy from the film “Infinitely Polar Bear.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Stephanie Ellis with the film “The Sleepwalker.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Pasquale Rotella of the documentary “Under the Electric Sky.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Catherine Keener with the film “War Story.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Desiree Akavan, left, and actress Rebecca Henderson with the film “Appropriate Behavior.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Steven Yueng with the film “I Origins.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Astrid Berges-Frisbey from the film “I Origins.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actors David Henry Gerson, left, and Kris Park with the short film “Chapel Perilous.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Halley Feiffer from the film “Appropriate Behavior.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Jenny Slate with the film “Obvious Child.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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John Shook, owner and chef of Los Angeles restaurant “Animal,” who created a pop-up “Animal” in Park City for Sundance. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Christopher Abbott with the film “The Sleepwalker.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Gillian Robespierre, left, and actress Jenny Slate with the film “Obvious Child.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Pasquale Rotella of the documentary “Under the Electric Sky.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Gitte Witt with the film “The Sleepwalker.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Arian Moayed with the film “Appropriate Behavior.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Directors Dan Cutforth and Jane Liptsitz of the documentary “Under the Electric Sky.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Erick Chavarria with the film “I’m A Mitzvah.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Mona Fastvold with the film “The Sleepwalker.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Aaron Paul, left, director Kat Candler and Josh Wiggins from the movie “Hellion.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Aaron Paul from the movie “Hellion.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Josh Wiggins from the movie “Hellion.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Jason Schwartzman, left, director Alex Ross Perry and Elizabeth Moss from the movie “Listen Up Phillip.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Jason Schwartzman from the movie “Listen Up Phillip.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Elizabeth Moss from the movie “Listen Up Phillip.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Josephine de La Baume from the movie “Listen Up Phillip.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Alex Ross Perry with the movie “Listen Up Phillip.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Jonathan Pryce from the movie “Listen Up Philip.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Malik Vitthal, left, John Boyega, Anika Noni Rose and Rotimi Akinosho from the movie “Imperial Dreams.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Jeff Preiss, left, Glenn Close, Elle Fanning, Flea and Amy-Jo Albany from the movie “Low Down.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Noah Silver from the movie “Jamie Marks Is Dead.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Glenn Close from the movie “Low Down.”

(Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Flea from the movie “Low Down.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Elle Fanning from the movie “Low Down.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Tim Daly from the movie “Low Down.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Greg Barker, left, Maryam Alkhawaja and John Battsek from the movie “We Are Giant.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Noah Silver, left, Madisen Beaty, director Carter Smith and Morgan Saylor from the movie “Jamie Marks is Dead.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Morgan Saylor from the movie “Jamie Marks is Dead.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Madisen Beaty from the movie “Jamie Marks is Dead.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Molly Shannon from the movie “Life After Beth.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Paul Reiser from the movie “Life After Beth.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Matthew Gray Gobler from the movie “Life After Beth.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Cheryl Hines from the movie “Life After Beth.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Dane DeHaan from the movie “Life After Beth.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Aubrey Plaza from the movie “Life After Beth.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Chris O’Dowd and Kelly Reilly from the movie “Calvary.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Chris O’Dowd from the movie “Calvary.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Kelly Reilly from the movie “Calvary.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Pierre Boulanger, left, Emily Browning, Hannah Murray and Olly Alexander from the movie “God Help the Girl.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Olly Alexander from the movie “God Help the Girl.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Emily Browning from the movie “God Help the Girl.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Pierre Boulanger from the movie “God Help the Girl.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Hannah Murray from the movie “God Help the Girl.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Paul Eenhoorn, left, Aaron Katz, Martha Stephens and Earl Lynn Nelson from the movie “Land Ho!” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Earl Lynn Nelson from the movie “Land Ho!” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Paul Eenhoorn from the movie “Land Ho!” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Rory Kennedy from the movie “Last Days in Vietnam.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Laurie David, left, Katie Couric and Stephanie Soechtig from the movie “Fed Up.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Brad Takei, left, and George Takei from the movie “To Be Takei.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Bill Hader, with “The Skeleton Twins.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Craig Johnson, director of “The Skeleton Twins.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Cast members and the director of “A Most Wanted Man” include, from left, Philip Seymour Hoffman, director Anton Corbijn, Rachel McAdams and Willem Dafoe. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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From left, Jeremiah Bitsui, Sydney Freeland, Morningstar Angeline, and Carmen Moore with “Drunktown’s Finest.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Zeresenay Bermane Mehari and Meron Getnet, with the film “Difret.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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From left: Fred Abahams, Ole Solvang holding baby Ari Anna Neistat-Solvang, Anna Neistat and directors Ross Dauffman and Katy Chevigny with “E-Team.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Marcello Conte, with “Ping Pong Summer.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Emmi Shockley, with “Ping Pong Summer.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Michael Tully, director of “Ping Pong Summer.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Andrew Rossi, director of “Ivory Tower.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Cast members and the director of “Love is Strange” include, from left, director Ira Sachs, John Lithgow, Marisa Tomei, Alfred Molina and Darren Burrows. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Mike Cahill, director of “I Origins.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Brit Marling, with “I Origins.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Luis Moreno Ocampo, director Edet Belzberg and Amelia Green-Dove, with “Watchers of the Sky.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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From left, Kris Perry, Sandy Stier, Jeff Zarrillo and Paul Katami, with “The Case Against 8.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Maika Monroe, with the film “The Guest.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Joey King, with the film “Wish I Was Here.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Pierce Gagnon, with the film “Wish I Was Here.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Josh Gad, with the film “Wish I Was Here.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Directors Maxim Pozdorovkin, left, and Tony Gerber, with the documentary “The Notorious Mr. Bout.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Cast members of the film “Wish I Was Here”, including, from left, Joey King, Zach Braff, Pierce Gagnon, Kate Hudson and Josh Gad. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Zach Braff and Kate Hudson, with the film “Wish I Was Here.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Eddy Moretti, chief creative officer of Vice and executive producer of “Fishing Without Nets” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Cast members of the film “Cold in July,” including from left, Don Johnson, Wyatt Russell, director Jim Mickle, Vinessa Shaw, Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard and Nick Damici. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Chloe Grace Moretz, from the film “Laggies.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Kaitlyn Dever, with the film “Laggies.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Sam Rockwell, with the film “Laggies.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Alex Gibney, director of the documentary “Finding Fela.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Lynn Shelton, director of the film “Laggies.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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From the film “Laggies” are, from left, cast members Sam Rockwell, Kaitlyn Dever amd Chloe Grace Moretz and director Lynn Shelton. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Dan Stevens, with the film “The Guest.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Chase Williamson, with the film “The Guest.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Adam Wingard, with the film “The Guest.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Lance Reddick, with the film “The Guest.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Sheila Kelley, of the film “The Guest.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Lenny Abrahamson and actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, from the film “Frank.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Writer Simon Barrett, of the film “The Guest.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Brendan Meyer, with the film “The Guest.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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From the film “The Guest” are, from left, Lance Reddick, Dan Stevens, Sheila Kelley, director Adam Wingard, Maika Monroe, Chase Williamson, Brendan Meyer and writer Simon Barrett. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Maika Monroe, with the film “The Guest.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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From the film “Frank” are, from left, actor Scoot McNairy, director Lenny Abrahamson and actress Maggie Gyllenhaal. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Cutter Hodierne, center, with actors Abdikani Muktar, left, in white and Abubakr Mire, of the film “Fishing Without Nets.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Ashley Greene, with the film “Wish I Was Here.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, with the film “Frank.”

(Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Scoot McNairy with the film “Frank.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Abdikani Muktar, from the film “Fishing Without Nets.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Vinessa Shaw of “Cold in July.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Sam Shepard and Vinessa Shaw appear in the thriller “Cold in July.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Don Johnson, part of the “Cold in July” cast. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Nick Damici, an actor in the thriller “Cold in July.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Greg Whiteley, director of “Mitt,” documenting Mitt Romney’s run for the presidency. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Michael C. Hall, a lead actor in “Cold in July.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Wyatt Russell, an actor in “Cold in July.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Jim Mickle, director of “Cold in July.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Cast of the movie “Camp X-Ray,” from left, Peter Sattler, Payman Maadi, Kristen Stewart and Lane Garrison. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Kristen Stewart from “Camp X-Ray.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Payman Maadi from the movie “Camp X-Ray.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Lane Garrison from the movie “Camp X-Ray.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Peter Sattler from the movie “Camp X-Ray.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Tom Bernard, left, and Michael Barker, co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Rose McGowan, with the film “Dawn.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Richard Ayoade, left, and Jesse Eisenberg, from the film “The Double.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Jesse Eisenberg, from the film “The Double.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Richard Ayoade, from the film “The Double.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actors Miles Teller, left, and Damien Chazelle, from the film “Whiplash.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Austin Stowell, from the film “Whiplash.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Cast of the film “Blue Ruin,” including Devin Ratray, left, Amy Hargreaves, Macon Blair and Eve Plumb. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Devin Ratray, from the film “Blue Ruin.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Amy Hargreaves, from the film “Blue Ruin.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actor Macon Blair, from the film “Blue Ruin.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Hong Khao, left, and actress Pei Pei Cheng, from the movie “Lilting.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Eve Plumb, from the film “Blue Ruin.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Writer-director Jeremy Saulnier, from the film “Blue Ruin.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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The cast of “Whiplash,” including Miles Teller, left, Melissa Benoist, Austin Stowell and Damien Chazelle. (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Actress Kate Flannery, from the film “Cooties.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

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Director Todd Miller, left, and sales agent Josh Braun, with the film “Dinosaur 13.” (Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

By Steven Zeitchik

Feb. 5, 2014 6 AM PT

When Stuart Murdoch, the frontman for the indie pop group Belle & Sebastian, was shooting his directorial debut “God Help the Girl,” he decided to offer a cautionary word to the crew.

“I told them, ‘You know this movie won’t open, because Belle & Sebastian never opens,’” he said, laughing, sort of.

In its nearly two-decade history, the Glasgow, Scotland, act may never have had a chart-topping smash. But in a culture of tabloid ephemera and gone-tomorrow musical phenoms, Belle & Sebastian has managed something more elusive: longevity.

Now Murdoch has translated the delicate and wry sensibilities that have made the band a long-running tastemaker favorite, known for its melodic nuggets about oddball children and sideways romances, to the medium of film. And he’s done it in a fittingly Belle & Sebastian way.

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“God Help the Girl” has a slow-burn quality similar to the songs Murdoch writes — it’s an unassuming, unconventional musical tale that sneaks up on you. When the movie opens a prestigious section of the Berlin International Film Festival on Friday after a well-received premiere at the Sundance Film Festival last month, it will mark the latest chapter in Murdoch’s unusual career.

“God Help the Girl” centers on Eve (Emily Browning), a young woman struggling with depression and other disorders at a mental hospital. Soon she meets young neurotic singer-songwriter James (Olly Alexander), and the two form the kind of sweet, music-nerd bond you might find in, well, a Belle & Sebastian song. Navigating their crises separately, they eventually team up with another beautiful-but-lost young musician named Cassie (Hannah Murray) for a summer of pretty, indelible music and melancholic experience.

A coming-of-age tale that avoids many of its sentimental pitfalls, “God Help the Girl” also poses deeper questions about artists and artistry — the power of a pop song, the value of selling out — without ever feeling ponderous.

And though writing from the point of view of a young woman isn’t a natural for the 45-year-old Murdoch, the musician based the story in part on his own life, particularly a period when chronic fatigue syndrome sapped him of energy and sidelined him for seven years. (It was during that period, ending in the mid-1990s, when he says he came into his own as a songwriter with the help, in part, of a faith healer.)

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“It doesn’t take much guessing to see me in the stories of the characters,” he said. “The three pillars of the film are music, illness and spirituality, and those have been three pillars in my life.” (As it does for James, churchgoing figures into Murdoch’s life and music.)

The project has an unusual back story. Murdoch has been trying to craft a movie since an idea struck him in 2003 for a coming-of-age musical with original tunes. Though he hooked up soon after with the veteran Hollywood producer Barry Mendel, the soft-spoken man behind hits such as “The Sixth Sense” and “Bridesmaids,” a series of development and financing hiccups kept the film from materializing. In fact, Browning and Murray said at the Sundance screening that so much time had passed after their initial auditions that they thought the film wasn’t happening.

But Murdoch persisted. On various visits to Southern California, the musician would hole himself up in a motel room, banging and throwing out pages in equal measure, and shuttling back and forth to Mendel’s Pasadena home. “It was clear he was already a great storyteller,” the producer said. “It was the shape of the script we spent a lot of time working on.”

Soon the songs Murdoch was writing for the film began to outpace that script. In 2009, Murdoch felt those songs were ready. So he recorded them with a series of female musicians, including the performer Catherine Ireton, and put them out as an album titled “God Help the Girl.” He returned to the movie intermittently in the years that followed.

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In the end, the film (it is seeking commercial distribution in the U.S.) was made on a down-and-dirty budget in about 25 days. Much of the music in it, even background tracks sung by other artists, was written by Murdoch to avoid expensive licensing fees.

Since the fall, Murdoch has been back in the studio with Belle & Sebastian, working on the band’s first album in four years. He said that although writing and directing a film pushed him out of his comfort zone, he felt right at home making a movie about the canon of pop music and its questions of where one fits into it, which he said is equally resonant for young aspirants as it is seasoned favorites.

At Sundance, comparisons flew to John Carney’s “Once,” another tender dramedy about two damaged people coming together to make music, helmed by a director with U.K. rock resume. Murdoch bristles a little at that invocation — “Once” became a hit seven years ago, when the singer was in the early stages of writing “God Help the Girl,” and he deliberately avoided seeing it. The Broadway hit a few years ago just taunted him, he said.

With his trademark mordant wit, Murdoch said he could have imagined a different outcome for himself on several fronts. “I think the best thing that could have happened to Belle & Sebastian is if I fell under a bus right after ‘If You’re Feeling Sinister,’ ” he said, referencing the 1996 album that put the band on the map among many music enthusiasts. “But something else happened.”

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It’s a theme explored in the film too, as characters debate whether British icons such as Nick Drake became more famous because their stars burned so briefly.

But appropriately for Belle & Sebastian, those ideas never become overly self-serious; despite its preoccupation with subjects such as artistry and illness, the enterprise had a wear-it-lightly quality.

“It’s just that sometimes when I’m walking along,” Murdoch said, explaining his reason for making the movie, “I wish the world would turn into a great pop song.”

steve.zeitchik@latimes.com