My Dinner with Andre is a 1981 film directed by Louis Malle, starring Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory. The film revolves around a conversation between the two protagonists, who are also playing themselves. The movie opens with Wallace Shawn, a struggling actor, discussing his mundane life in New York City with his girlfriend. He receives a call from his old friend Andre Gregory, a successful avant-garde theater director who has spent the last few years traveling and exploring the world.
Andre invites Wallace to meet him at a swanky restaurant in downtown Manhattan. Over the course of a five-hour meal, the two friends engage in a wide-ranging conversation about their respective lives, experiences, and philosophies. Andre recounts his travels around the world, where he has had various transformative experiences, such as spending time in a remote monastery in Poland, exploring the Sahara Desert, and experimenting with mind-altering drugs in Kerala, India.
Wallace, on the other hand, is skeptical of Andre's claims and questions his motives for seeking such experiences. Nevertheless, Wallace listens intently as Andre describes his encounters with mystics, healers, and visionaries, and offers his own thoughts on the meaning of life, time, and consciousness.
As the night wears on, the conversation becomes more intense and personal, with Andre revealing more about his own doubts and fears. Wallace, who has been mostly quiet and attentive, shares his own struggles with boredom, anxiety, and loneliness, and admits his envy of Andre's adventurous spirit.
My Dinner with Andre is a unique cinematic experience that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. The film's minimalist approach, with no action or plot to speak of, allows the audience to focus on the dialogue and the nuances of the characters' performances. The movie has since become a cult classic and a touchstone for anyone interested in philosophical discussions and human connection.