I missed this film at the SXSW Film & Television Festival last year and was glad to have the opportunity to view it as it was released in select cities (theatrically in Austin at the Drafthouse South Lamar). Reading the synopsis gave me a general idea of what to anticipate, but when I was learning about 21-year-old Dylan (Charlie Plummer, Moonfall, All the Money in the World), the script by director/co-writer Luke Gilford and David Largman Murray & Kevin Best tended to melt my heart in certain family scenes, specifically with his younger brother (under ten years old, my guess).
Synopsis: A construction worker joins a community of queer rodeo performers searching for their own version of the American dream. While working on a ranch in the Southwest, they contend with the undeniable forces of nature, family, and love.
This is photographer Luke Gilford’s first feature. Dylan’s mother, Fiona (Robyn Lively), is a hairstylist and an alcoholic who expects her young son to help the family economically. She fails to nurture and take care of the younger child, and Dylan is seen stepping in to do chores and help with homework. He has no time for himself and takes day labor jobs, mostly construction.
Dylan is waiting along with other day laborers and is among the few chosen for a job at a ranch owned by Pepe (Rene Rosado, “The Conners” TV series). He follows orders and keeps his head to the grindstone until a ranch resident, Sky (Eve Lindley), chats with him. At that point, he doesn’t know about the relationship with Pepe. Soon Dylan learns about the queer-identifying community that exists on this cinematically gorgeous ranch and the queer performance and rodeo culture that is thriving.
Pepe may allow Sky certain liberties, and the three spend time together, but it is clear there are limits that Pepe expects to be respected. Dylan and Sky are real affectionate, but it is not until a conversation with another resident and a ranching incident that Dylan must learn his place in all of this.
National Anthem is a Western that combines romance, playfulness, family, and a coming-of-age drama for people over 18. It is rated R and is 1 hour and 36 minutes long.
National Anthem opens at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar on Friday, July 12, followed by a nationwide release on Friday, July 19.
Source: Variance Films and LD Entertainment