Anomalisa

Anomalisa is a 2015 American stop-motion comedy-drama film directed and produced by Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson, and written by Kaufman based on his 2005 play of the same name.

Michael Stone

• What is to be human? What is it to ache? What is it to be.. alive? Each person you speak to has had a day. Some of the days have been good, some bad. Each person you speak to has had a childhood. Each has a body. Each body has aches. Look for what is special about each individual. Focus on that. Remember there is someone out there for everyone. Our time is limited, we forget that. Death comes, that’s it. Soon it’s as if we never existed. So, remember to smile.

Dialogue

Michael Stone: Always remember the customer is an individual. Just like you. Each person you speak to has had a day. Some of the days have been good, some bad, but they've all had one. Each person you speak to has had a childhood. Each has a body. Each body has aches. What is it to be human? What is it to ache? What is it to be alive?

[Michael Stone scoffs.]

Michael Stone: I don't know. What is it to ache? I don't know. What is it to be alive? I don't know... Uh, yes. "How do I talk to a customer?" How do I talk to a customer? These are the important questions for a customer service representative. What do I say? Do I smile while I'm on the phone? Well, they can tell, if you're smiling, even if they can't see you. Did you know that? Try it as an experiment on the phone with a friend. Try it. Go ahead. Watch.

[Michael Stone turns around.]

Michael Stone: I'm lost.

[Michael Stone chuckles and turns back around.]

Michael Stone: See I was smiling when I said that? I've lost my love. She's an unmoored ship and she's drifting off to sea. I have no one to talk to. I have no one to talk to. I have no one to talk to. I'm sorry. I don't mean to burden you with that, I just don't know what else to do because I have no one to talk to... Be friendly to the customer. Think of the customer as a friend...

[Michael Stone sighs.]

---

Everyone else: [Passenger sitting next to Michael] Sorry, I-I grabbed your hand.

Michael Stone: It's okay.

Everyone else: [Passenger sitting next to Michael] It's a reflex. I'm usually sitting next to my wife.

[pause]

Everyone else: But I don't like to fly.

Michael Stone: I said it's okay.

[pause]

Michael Stone: You can let go now though.

Cast

• David Thewlis as Michael Stone
• Jennifer Jason Leigh as Lisa Hesselman

External links

• Anomalisa quotes at the Internet Movie Database