Drunktown's Finest

Drunktown's Finest is an American drama film directed by Sydney Freeland.[1][2] The film had its world premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2014.[3][4] The film later screened at the Sundance London Film Festival on April 25, 2014.[5]

Drunktown's Finest
Film poster
Directed bySydney Freeland
Screenplay bySydney Freeland
Produced byMateo Frazier
Chad Burris
StarringJeremiah Bitsui
Carmen Moore
Morningstar Angeline
Kiowa Gordon
Shauna Baker
Elizabeth Frances
CinematographyPeter Holland
Edited byHarry Yoon
Music byMark Orton
Joel Pickard
Production
company
Indion Entertainment Group Wildwood Enterprises, Inc
Distributed bySundance Channel
Release date
  • January 18, 2014 (2014-01-18) (Sundance)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguagesEnglish
Navajo

The film was acquired by Sundance Channel after its premiere at Sundance Film Festival and was scheduled to broadcast in 2014.[6]

Plot

Three young Navajo Native Americans - an adopted Native girl, a young father-to-be, and a trans woman who dreams of being a model - strive to escape the hardships of life on an Indian reservation. Nizhoni seeks out her past, well after being adopted by a white Christian family, Felixia, a trans woman, pursues a spot in the "women of the tribe" calendar, and Sickboy is headed to basic training so he can take care of his soon-to-be-born child.[7]

Cast
  • Jeremiah Bitsui as Luther SickBoy Maryboy
  • Carmen Moore as Felixia
  • Morningstar Angeline as Nizhoni Smiles
  • Kiowa Gordon as Julius
  • Shauna Baker as Karah
  • Elizabeth Frances as Angela Maryboy

Reception

Drunktown's Finest received positive reviews from critics. Geoff Berkshire of Variety wrote that "Freeland takes her time bringing her characters together, allowing the audience an opportunity to marinate in the unique experiences of each individual first. The slow-burn approach is smartly executed, and the intersecting plotlines veer toward schematic only during Sick Boy and Felixia’s chance encounter at a grocery store, which leads to an eventful night out."[8] John DeFore in his review for The Hollywood Reporter praised the film by saying that "Native American themes get a fresh look in three-handed drama."[9] Gary Green of HeyUGuys gave the film three stars, calling it "A low-budget picture with bigger things on its mind."[10]

References
  1. "Shifting Views with Drunktown's Finest". Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  2. "Director Sydney Freeland Discusses Drunktown's Finest". 23 January 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  3. "Sundance 2014: The Next <=> Lineup". 10 January 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  4. "Drunktown's Finest - Director Sydney Freeland". 17 January 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  5. "Sundance London Directors: Meet Sydney Freeland (Drunktown's Finest)". Archived from the original on May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  6. "Sundance: AMC/Sundance Channel Global Swoops on Six Sundance Titles". 23 January 2014. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  7. "'Drunktown's Finest' Director Sydney Freeland on Growing up Navajo and Trans". 22 February 2015.
  8. "Sundance Film Review: 'Drunktown's Finest'". 29 January 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  9. "Drunktown's Finest: Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 22 January 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  10. "Sundance London 2014: Drunktown's Finest Review". 26 April 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
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