Frybread Face and Me
{{short description|2023 film by Billy Luther}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Frybread_face_and_me_film_poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Billy Luther
| producer = Chad Burris
| writer = Billy Luther
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Keir Tallman
- Charley Hogan
- Sarah H. Natani
- Martin Sensmeier
- Kahara Hodges
}}
| music = Ryan Beveridge
| cinematography = Peter Simonite
| editing = Fred Koschmann
| studio = {{Plainlist|
- Indion Entertainment
- REI Co-op Studios
}}
| distributor = ARRAY
| released = {{film date|2023|3|11|SXSW|2023|11|24}}
| runtime = 82 minutes{{Cite web |date=November 23, 2023|title=Frybread Face And Me (15) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/frybread-face-and-me-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmde3ody2|access-date=November 23, 2023 |website=British Board of Film Classification}}
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
}}
Frybread Face and Me is a 2023 American coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Billy Luther. It stars Keir Tallman, Charley Hogan, Sarah H. Natani, Martin Sensmeier, and Kahara Hodges. New Zealand actor and filmmaker Taika Waititi serves as an executive producer.
It had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 11, 2023 before screening at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, and was released on November 24, 2023 in limited theaters by ARRAY and on Netflix.
Premise
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- Keir Tallman as Benny
- Charley Hogan as Frybread Face (real name Dawn)
- Sarah H. Natani as Grandma
- Martin Sensmeier as Marvin
- Kahara Hodges as Aunt Lucy
- Morningstar Angeline as Ann
- Leilani Taliaferro as Ida
- Nasheen Sleuth as Aunt Sharon
- Jeremiah Bitsui as Uncle Roger
- Sunny Dooley as Navajo doctor
- Billy Luther as adult Benny (narrator)
}}
Production
In June 2021, it was announced that Morningstar Angeline and Martin Sensmeier had joined the cast of the film, with Billy Luther directing from a screenplay he wrote, with Taika Waititi executive producing.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/taika-waititi-frybread-face-casting-martin-sensmeier-morningstar-angeline-billy-luther-sundance-1234779002/|title=Taika Waititi EP'd 'Frybread Face & Me' Casts MorningStar Angeline & Martin Sensmeier; Billy Luther Directing & Penning Film|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Dominic|last=Patten|date=June 22, 2021|access-date=November 4, 2023}} In September 2021, it was announced Keir Tallman, Sarah H. Natani, Kahara Hodges, Charley Hogan, and Jeremiah Bitsui had joined the cast of the film.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/taika-waititi-frybread-face-billy-luther-macro-river-road-rei-co-op-studios-1234834323/|title=Taika Waititi-EP'd 'Frybread Face & Me' Sees Macro, River Road, REI Co-op Studios & Fit Via Vi Join Billy Luther-Directed Feature|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Dominic|last=Patten|date=September 21, 2021|access-date=November 4, 2023}}
Principal photography took place in New Mexico.Dominic Patten, [https://deadline.com/2023/03/taika-waititi-star-wars-sxsw-frybread-face-me-billy-luther-interview-reservation-dogs-1235285504/ "'Frybread Face & Me' Director Billy Luther & EP Taika Waititi On SXSW Debut, Original Stories, 'Star Wars,' Savvy Audiences, & Expanding Horizons"]. Deadline Hollywood, March 11, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhonews.com/news/2021/sep/21/frybread-face-me-wraps-new-mexico-filming/|title='Frybread Face & Me' wraps up New Mexico filming|website=Navajo-Hopi Observer|first=Bernie|last=Dotson|date=September 21, 2021|access-date=November 4, 2023}}
Release
Frybread Face and Me had its world premiere at 2023 South by Southwest Film & TV Festival on March 11, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/2023-sxsw-film-lineup-dungeons-and-dragons-opening-movie-1235218171/|title=SXSW Lineup Includes 'Dungeons & Dragons' On Opening Night, 'Evil Dead Rise', Eva Longoria's 'Flamin' Hot', A24's 'Problemista' & More|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|date=January 11, 2023|access-date=November 4, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://schedule.sxsw.com/2023/films/2079695|title=Frybread Face and Me|website=South by Southwest|access-date=November 4, 2023}} It screened at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival in the Discovery section on September 11, 2023.{{cite web|first=John |last=Hazelton |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/tiff-discovery-and-midnight-madness-line-ups-revealed/5184627.article |title=TIFF Discovery and Midnight Madness line-ups revealed |website=Screen Daily |date=August 3, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://tiff.net/events/frybread-face-and-me|title=Frybread Face and Me|website=Toronto International Film Festival|access-date=November 4, 2023}} In November 2023, ARRAY acquired distribution rights to the film in the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland. On November 24, 2023 the film received a limited theatrical release, alongside a Netflix release.{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2023/film/news/frybread-face-and-me-billy-luther-array-1235778407/|title=Array Acquires 'Frybread Face and Me,' Sets Limited Theatrical Run and Netflix Debut (Exclusive)|website=Variety|first=Jazz|last=Tangcay|date=November 3, 2023|access-date=November 3, 2023}}
Reception
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|97|7.4|29|consensus=|access-date=February 19, 2024|ref=y}} {{Metacritic film prose|71|9|ref=yes|access-date=February 19, 2024}}
The film received was dubbed "a refreshing queer take on the coming of age genre",{{Cite web |last=Asenap |first=Jason |date=2023-12-19 |title=‘Frybread Face and Me’ shows the complexity of Indigeneity |url=https://www.hcn.org/articles/arts-culture-frybread-face-and-me-shows-the-complexity-of-indigeneity/ |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=High Country News |language=en-US}} "absolutely charming",{{Cite web |date=2023-09-13 |title=A young boy blossoms in the desert in ‘Frybread Face and Me’ at TIFF {{!}} Xtra Magazine |url=https://xtramagazine.com/culture/frybread-face-and-me-tiff-billy-luther-256718 |access-date=2024-12-01 |language=en-CA}} and "heartfelt".{{Cite web |title=‘Frybread Face and Me’ Review: Reservation Summer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/23/movies/frybread-face-and-me-review.html |website=The New York Times}} Angie Han of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that for what the film "lacks in drama, it makes up for in a boundless affection for its characters and an appreciation for the everyday details of their lives."{{cite web|first=Angie |last=Han |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/frybread-face-and-me-review-1235346172/ |title='Frybread Face and Me' Review: A Tender Tale of Cousins, Coming of Age and Life on the Reservation |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=March 11, 2023}} Lisa Kennedy of Variety wrote that "watching this family interact is a reminder how rare it is to see so many American indigenous actors in a space, weaving the unique and universal into stories that expand our storehouse of their experience."{{cite web|first=Lisa |last=Kennedy |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/frybread-face-and-me-review-1235563884/ |title='Frybread Face and Me' Review: Indigenous Filmmaker Billy Luther's Achy, Amusing Tale of Exile and Discovery |website=Variety |date=March 24, 2023}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title}}
Category:American coming-of-age drama films
Category:2020s coming-of-age drama films
Category:Native American drama films
Category:American independent films
Category:2020s English-language films
Category:2023 LGBTQ-related films
Category:2023 independent films
Category:American LGBTQ-related films
Category:LGBTQ-related coming-of-age drama films