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Oscar nominated in 2004 for Best Adapted Screenplay and winner of countless film awards including the Grand Jury Prize at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and the FIPRESCI Award at 2003 Cannes Film Festival, American Splendor tells the true and extraordinary story of Harvey Pekar.

Harvey relieves the monotony of his mundane job as a filing clerk in a Cleveland hospital by discussing with his fellow employees everything from jazz, rock 'n' roll and the decline of America culture to new flavours of jelly beans. Obsessed with the complications and intricacies of ordinary, everyday life, he begins to write down his observations and, with the help of his friend, legendary illustrator Robert Crumb, publishes them in the form of a comic book he calls "American Splendor".

Initially a cult success, the autobiographical comic soon turns the cantankerous, curmudgeonly Harvey into a hero for millions of Americans. Achieving critical acclaim and, following regular guest appearances on The David Letterman Show, celebrity status, Harvey finds his life is most profoundly changed when he meets and falls for sardonic comic store owner Joyce Barber.

As inventive and unbound as its subject, American Splendor combines comic book adaptation, biopic, animation and documentary elements to give a hilarious insight into the remarkable life of Harvey Pekar. Paul Giamatti (Paycheck; Confidence) stars as Harvey, alongside Hope Davis (About Schmidt) as Joyce and James Urbaniak (Legally Blonde 2; Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind) as Robert Crumb. The film also features the real life Harvey and Joyce as themselves, providing a rare chance to appreciate the amazing accuracy and brilliance of Davis and Giamatti's performances as the unconventional couple.

American Splendor is released by High Fliers and will be available on DVD from 24th May 2004.