Appropriate Behavior (2015) Plot Summary Explained

Shirin's breakup with Maxine was devastating enough to leave her both homeless and unemployed. The summary suggests they were living together, and when the relationship ended, Shirin lost her home and her source of income simultaneously. This sudden loss of stability is what forces her to move in with her friend Crystal and eventually with unconventional roommates.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early that Shirin was entirely dependent on Maxine for housing, making the breakup's impact on her living situation inevitable.

• homeless
• breakup
• Maxine
• housing
• Brooklyn

Maxine begins a new relationship with Tibet, who is described as a fellow teacher at the school where she works. After her breakup with Shirin, Maxine moved on and started this new romance. The timing suggests Maxine was ready to move forward with her life, and her new relationship with Tibet adds complexity to Shirin's attempts to reconnect with her.

• Maxine
• Tibet
• new romance
• teacher
• relationship

Shirin chooses to come out to her brother first because she senses he will be more supportive and accepting. The summary confirms her brother responds with overwhelming support, making him a safe person to confide in before facing the more difficult conversation with her mother, who struggles to accept the truth about Shirin's bisexuality.

Foreshadowing: Shirin's decision to test her brother's reaction first shows her strategic approach to navigating family disclosure, prioritizing safer relationships before confronting harder ones.

• coming out
• brother
• family
• sexuality
• support

At the film's end, Shirin is on a subway ride when she confides in Crystal about her plan to confront her mother about her sexuality within the month. Just then, she spots Maxine on the platform. They exchange waves, creating a moment filled with unspoken possibilities. This hopeful exchange suggests potential reconciliation, though nothing is confirmed, leaving Shirin's future with Maxine uncertain but optimistic.

Foreshadowing: The ending mirrors Shirin's earlier loss on the subway platform, creating a circular narrative where the same location now holds hope rather than heartbreak.

• ending
• Maxine
• subway
• reunion
• hope
• resolution

After becoming homeless and unemployed, Shirin needs to rebuild her life and finds work teaching filmmaking to five-year-olds in Park Slope. This job represents her attempt to regain stability and reconnect with her creative passions. The role also marks her first step toward independence and self-sufficiency outside of her relationship with Maxine.

• filmmaking
• teaching
• Park Slope
• job
• children
• career

Shirin's affluent Persian immigrant parents are perplexed by her sudden change in living arrangements because they remain unaware of her bisexuality and relationship with a woman. They only see that their daughter has left her previous home and is now living with unconventional roommates, which conflicts with their traditional expectations and understanding of her life.

Foreshadowing: The parents' ignorance about Shirin's relationship with Maxine sets up the central tension of the film, where cultural expectations clash with her true identity.

• parents
• Persian
• confusion
• living situation
• traditional values

Shirin decides to give herself a month before confronting her mother about her sexuality, using the subway ride to confide this timeline to Crystal. This one-month window suggests she needs time to mentally prepare for the difficult conversation, recognizing that her mother struggles to accept the truth. The planned confrontation represents a pivotal moment in Shirin's journey toward living openly.

• confrontation
• mother
• sexuality
• month
• coming out

Learning that Maxine has moved on and started dating Tibet creates complex emotions for Shirin. It adds layers of pain and difficulty to her attempts to reconnect with her ex-girlfriend. The revelation underscores the challenges of letting go and highlights Shirin's internal struggle between wanting to move forward and still holding onto feelings for Maxine.

• Maxine
• Tibet
• jealousy
• ex-girlfriend
• emotional pain

Crystal serves as Shirin's supportive friend throughout her period of homelessness and self-discovery. She encourages Shirin to find new living arrangements and becomes someone Shirin can confide in, particularly about her plans to confront her mother about her sexuality. Crystal's friendship provides emotional stability during Shirin's chaotic transition period.

• Crystal
• friendship
• support
• roommate
• confidante