DOPAMINE takes as its theme the question of whether love is anything more than a surge of chemicals in the brain. A soul-searching artist and grade-school teacher named Sarah (Sabrina Lloyd) locks horns with a group of San Francisco software guys looking to use her classroom to test market Koy Koy, an interactive computer pet. She falls for Rand (John Livingston), the quiet one, but has sex with his more aggressive partner, Winston (Bruno Campos). Regardless of this, whenever Rand and Sarah are together, we see digital images representing the chemical surges of dopamine that are causing them to feel deep attraction. The trouble is, Rand's father (William Windom) has instilled in him a philosophy of life based purely on neuropharmacology--his own marriage to Rand's mother having gone sour due to mental illness--which makes it hard for Rand to get out of his overly analytical mindset and obsession with Koy Koy. With Sarah's help Rand begins to move beyond his fears, and to realize the inherent problems with his virtual pet program. The script by director Mark Decena and Timothy Breitbach was workshopped at Sundance, and the film benefits from the presence of Lloyd who lends haunting yet earthy appeal to the character of Sarah.

DVD Features:

Region [unknown]
Keep Case
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital Stereo - English
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Behind the Scenes
Introduction: Mark Decena - Director
Trailers:
1. Theatrical Trailer
2. Highlights from the 2003 Sundance Film Series
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus

John Livingston: Actor/"Mr. Wrong"
Sabrina Lloyd: Actor, DOPAMINE (2003)
Bruno Campos: Latino Actor
Rueben Grundy: Actor, DOPAMINE (2003)
William Windom: American TV/Film Actor
Nicole Wilder: Actor, DOPAMINE (2003)

Mark Decena: Director, DOPAMINE (2003)

Debbie Brubaker: Producer, DOPAMINE (2003)
Tad Fettig: Producer, DOPAMINE (2003)

Timothy Breitbach: Screenwriter, DOPAMINE (2003)
Mark Decena: Director, DOPAMINE (2003)

Eric Holland: Composer, DOPAMINE (2003)

Jessica Congdon: Editor, DOPAMINE

"[E]ngaging is the movie's realistic depiction of the San Francisco dotcom boom and bust through the eyes of the company's Gen-X staffers."