99 mins |
Rated
R (for sexual content, graphic nudity, language and some drug use.)
Directed by Luke Gilford
Starring Charlie Plummer, Robyn Lively, Eve Lindley, Mason Alexander Park, Rene Rosado
Dylan (Charlie Plummer), a soft-spoken 21-year-old construction worker, is the de facto father figure to his little brother and works odd jobs to help the family get by. After he finds himself with the opportunity to work at a ranch, he is welcomed by a vibrant community of rodeo performers who openly explore their identities and sexuality. He is especially drawn to Sky (Eve Lindley), a force of nature who Dylan connects with deeply, as he begins to forge his own identity. Writer/Director Luke Gilford, making his feature film directorial debut, sets his moving and exhilarating cinematic reinvention of the coming-of-age story against stunning Western landscapes to boldly reimagine a hopeful exploration of first love, found family, and self-discovery that is both timely and timeless.
"Beyond its touching love story, National Anthem shares with Gilford’s monograph a striking directness in its presentation of the queer rodeo community. The film feels delicately radical."
- Tim Grierson, Screen International
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Dylan (Charlie Plummer), a soft-spoken 21-year-old construction worker, is the de facto father figure to his little brother and works odd jobs to help the family get by. After he finds himself with the opportunity to work at a ranch, he is welcomed by a vibrant community of rodeo performers who openly explore their identities and sexuality. He is especially drawn to Sky (Eve Lindley), a force of nature who Dylan connects with deeply, as he begins to forge his own identity. Writer/Director Luke Gilford, making his feature film directorial debut, sets his moving and exhilarating cinematic reinvention of the coming-of-age story against stunning Western landscapes to boldly reimagine a hopeful exploration of first love, found family, and self-discovery that is both timely and timeless.
"Beyond its touching love story, National Anthem shares with Gilford’s monograph a striking directness in its presentation of the queer rodeo community. The film feels delicately radical."
- Tim Grierson, Screen International