American Splendor

American Splendor tells the true and extraordinary story of Harvey Pekar by combining comic book adaptation, biopic, animation and documentary elements. Harvey (Paul Giamatti) 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 (Hope Davis).