Minnie and Moskowitz 1971

Seymour Moskowitz, a ruggedly eccentric parking attendant with a penchant for chaos, has recently transplanted himself from New York to Los Angeles, bringing his signature brand of unpredictability to the City of Angels. Meanwhile, Minnie Moore, a museum curator trapped in an abusive relationship with the married Jim, is grappling with disillusionment and despair following a particularly brutal fight with her lover. As she confides in a friend about the perils of growing older and the futility of seeking true love, her existential crisis deepens.

The next day, Minnie’s well-meaning friends arrange a blind date for her with Zelmo, a bitter widower prone to loud outbursts. The encounter is an unmitigated disaster, culminating in Zelmo’s hasty departure and Minnie’s distress. Seymour, working the parking lot at the time, becomes embroiled in a physical altercation with the irate suitor, emerging victorious but covered in Zelmo’s blood. As the defeated suitor flees the scene, leaving Minnie stranded, Seymour offers her a ride, which she initially declines before he forcibly insists on driving her to her workplace at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Unbeknownst to Minnie, her former lover Jim awaits inside, his true colors revealed as he discloses that his wife has attempted suicide. Fuming and wounded, Minnie delivers a resounding slap to her ex-lover’s face, marking a turning point in her emotional journey. Seymour appears at Minnie’s doorstep, demanding an explanation for losing his job at the parking lot due to his involvement in the earlier altercation. He takes her out for a drink, only to confess his all-consuming love for her at a hot-dog stand, where he berates her for taking herself too seriously.

Following their impromptu date, Seymour brings a mysterious woman home, and they spend the night together. As the days pass, Seymour courts Minnie with a series of unconventional dates, including a trip to an ice-cream parlor and a country-western bar. Amidst the music and dancing in the parking lot, they share a passionate kiss, their connection palpable. However, when Minnie fails to introduce Seymour to her wealthy friends at the bar, he becomes enraged and abandons her, leaving her stranded once more.

A well-meaning friend arrives to whisk Minnie away, only for Seymour to reappear at her doorstep, his anger and hurt boiling over. The ensuing confrontation between the two men results in an injury to Minnie, a poignant reminder of the destructive power of their tumultuous relationship.

As Seymour ushers Minnie into the warmth of his humble abode, she confesses that her vision of the future does not include him by her side. Undeterred, he pleads with fervor, insisting that their love is destined to be eternal. His desperation reaches a fever pitch as he lops off his iconic moustache in a moment of unbridled passion. Minnie’s resolve finally crumbles, and she agrees to become Seymour’s partner for life, sharing the news with her mother.

The unlikely couple then embarks on a dinner date with their mothers, who greet the announcement with skepticism and dismay. Seymour’s mother is less than impressed, bluntly telling Minnie that she deserves someone far more worthy of her affection than her own son. Minnie’s mother, meanwhile, is left reeling from the suddenness of it all, her emotions overwhelmed by the prospect of welcoming a new daughter-in-law into their fold.

As fate would have it, Minnie and Seymour do indeed tie the knot, their joyous laughter echoing through the air as the minister stumbles over his words. In a poignant flashforward, we glimpse a sun-drenched backyard birthday party, perhaps celebrating the arrival of their very own little bundle of joy, surrounded by smiling faces and warm memories.