Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck were inspired to make “Sugar” after reading about the rising number of Dominican athletes who go to the U.S. to play baseball.
By Lucy Spicer
Spring has sprung, the birds are singing, and every new bloom is a reminder to celebrate the good things that come around every year. For indie-film lovers, that includes commemorating the dates when some of our favorite Sundance-supported titles received wide releases.
We’ve pulled an intriguing variety of films with April birthdays for the list below. This month’s offerings feature a 1970s summer coming-of-age story, a darkly funny Christmastime drug deal gone wrong, a crime ring led by high school overachievers, a Dominican baseball player at spring training in the U.S., and a nonfiction investigation into a mysterious death in the Arizona desert.
The Inkwell (1994) — It’s the summer of 1976: The U.S. is preparing to celebrate its bicentennial, and 16-year-old Drew (Larenz Tate) is still reeling from having accidentally set fire to his family’s garage. Drew’s parents, Kenny (Joe Morton) and Brenda (Suzzanne Douglas), worry about their shy son’s behavior, but a trip to see some estranged wealthy relatives on Martha’s Vineyard provides plenty of distractions. For one, Kenny, a former Black Panther, is constantly at odds with Drew’s staunchly Republican aunt and uncle. Meanwhile, Drew awkwardly attempts to make friends and pursue the elusive Lauren (Jada Pinkett Smith). The Inkwell, named after the moniker for the Martha’s Vineyard Black beach community, is director Matty Rich’s (Straight of out Brooklyn) second feature. Check here for viewing options.
Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
Go (1999) — Soap actors Adam (Scott Wolf) and Zack (Jay Mohr) are in the market for some ecstasy, but their usual hookup, Simon (Desmond Askew), is off on a Las Vegas romp. Hoping to collect enough cash to stave off eviction, Simon’s teenage co-worker Ronna (Sarah Polley) offers her assistance. But nothing is quite as it seems in director Doug Liman’s high-energy third feature. Part dark comedy, part crime film, part road trip adventure, Go features an ensemble cast (including Taye Diggs, Katie Holmes, Timothy Olyphant, William Fichtner, and Jane Krakowski, among others) that comes together to tell a multi-POV story full of uproarious twists and turns. Check here for viewing options.
Better Luck Tomorrow (2003) — On the surface, Ben Manibag (Parry Shen) fulfills the stereotype of the overachieving Asian American suburban high schooler: His grades are good, he’s on the basketball team, and he has plans to attend an Ivy League college. What’s a little petty crime with his friends Virgil (Jason Tobin) and Han (Sung Kang in the first appearance of his Fast & Furious franchise character) to blow off some steam? But petty crime quickly escalates to a lucrative theft and drug operation that leaves Ben questioning whether there’s any way out. Directed by Justin Lin, Better Luck Tomorrow premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. Check here for viewing options.
Sugar (2009) — When creating the screenplay for Sugar, writer-directors — and Sundance regulars — Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck took inspiration from real Dominican immigrants’ stories about coming to America to play baseball. Algenis Perez Soto plays Miguel “Sugar” Santos, a young Dominican pitcher invited to attend spring training in Iowa. Despite friendly intentions from his host family and guidance from another Dominican player on the team, Miguel struggles to acclimate to his new surroundings, leading him to reexamine his idea of the American Dream. Check here for viewing options.
Who is Dayani Cristal? (2014) — In August 2010, the decomposing body of a man was found in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. The one clue as to his identity was a tattoo that read “Dayani Cristal.” Director Marc Silver’s film is an investigation into the identity of this man and the broken immigration policies that lead migrants to resort to crossing such deadly landscapes. In dramatic sequences, co-producer Gael García Bernal traces the man’s long and dangerous journey. Silver received support from Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film Program and Producers Program to make the film, which went on to win the World Cinema Documentary Cinematography Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Check here for viewing options.