2008 saw a record number of entries for the Sundance Film Festival and the Dramatic Competition is perhaps one of the festival’s more recognisable sections.This year’s selection, which contains sixteen entries, ranges from tackling issues of race and class to a light hearted look at the dark side of human nature.Here are a few to watch out for:
American Son
American Son is directed by Nell Abramson and follows the ninety six hour leave that Mike Holland has before he is deployed to Iraq.As Holland, a Marine, returns home, for possibly the final time, American Son shows the turbulent family life and his affair with a young woman all within this ticking time frame.American Son is a story of moving from adolescence to adulthood and the uncertainties of his future due to the path that he has chosen to take.
Starring: Nick Cannon, Melonie Diaz, Matt O’Leary.
Downloading Nancy
Downloading Nancy is directed by John Renck and is about a chance meeting of damaged souls Nancy (Maria Bello) and Louis (Jason Patric) whose lives cross on the internet.
In a bid to escape from their unhappiness they pair seek comfort in one another through emailing and promising perverse sexual encounters.
When Nancy’s husband (Rufus Sewell) returns home from work he finds a note from Nancy that she has gone to stay with friends. However this is a lie.
Nancy believes that Louis is her salvation and the only person who can take her away from the pain that she feels in her life.
Starring: Maria Bello, Rufus Sewell, Jason Patric, Amy Brenneman.
North Starr
North Starr is directed by Matthew Stanton and is a poignant tale of the healing of wounds that were caused by racism.
Demetrious flees the dangerous thug lifestyle of the inner city after witnessing the murder of his best friend. He finds himself in Trublin, A town with many skeletons in it’s cupboard.
Demetrious’ presence in the town draws attention and suspicion from those who live there until he is taken in by Darring.
Finding strength in one another the pair confronts the demons of the town as well as facing their own fears.
Starring: Jerome Hawkins, Matthew Stanton, Chris Sullivan.
Sunshine Cleaning
Sunshine cleaning is directed by Christine Jeffs and stars Academy Award nominee Amy Adams and Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt.
Sunshine Cleaning is a comedy about two sisters who are striving to improve the quality of their lives and escape the dullness and monotony of their day to day activities.
In a bid to make something of themselves they set up a unique business by cleaning up the blood and body parts from crime and suicide scenes.
The New Zealand director highlights the desires of the ordinary person and the pursuit the sisters embark on to achieve their individual dreams.
Starring; Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Jason Spevack, Steve Zahn, Alan Arkin.
The Mysteries of Pittsburgh
The Mysteries of Pittsburgh is directed by Rawson and is based on Michael Chabon’s novel of the same name.
The film captures the moments when you meet, and are influenced, by those people who change your life, and looks at the interactions between human beings.
Set in 1980’s Pittsburgh Art Bechstein is stuck in a dead end job and begins to believe that he doesn’t really exist.
Suddenly art meets a beautiful stranger and her boyfriend and together they bring out a side of Art that many did not know existed.
Art begins to risk everything to keep safe his new found paradise and feeling of belonging.
Starring: Jon Foster, Sienna Miller, Peter Sarsgaard, Mena Suvari.
The other films shown in the Dramatic Competition are:
• Anywhere USA
• Ballest
• Choke
• Frozen River
• Good Dick
• The Last Word
• Phoebe in Wonderland
• Pretty Bird
• Sleep Dealer
• Sugar
• The Wackness.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw