Imperial Dreams

{{Infobox film

| name = Imperial Dreams

| image = File:ImperialDreamsPoster.jpeg

| alt =

| caption = Official poster

| director = Malik Vitthal

| producer = Jonathan Schwartz
Andrea Sperling
Katherine Fairfax Wright

| writer = Malik Vitthal
Ismet Prcic

| screenplay =

| starring = John Boyega
Rotimi Akinosho
Keke Palmer
Glenn Plummer
De'Aundre Bonds

| music = Flying Lotus

| cinematography = Monika Lenczewska

| editing = Suzanne Spangler

| studio = Super Crispy Entertainment

| distributor = Netflix

| released = {{Film date|2014|01|20|Sundance|2017|02|03|Netflix}}

| runtime = 90 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

}}

Imperial Dreams is an American drama film written and directed by Malik Vitthal.{{cite magazine |date=2014-01-23 |title=Sundance 2014: South Central L.A. is the Wild West in 'Imperial Dreams' -- EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/01/23/sundance-2014-imperial-dreams-exclusive-photos/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140507103607/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/01/23/sundance-2014-imperial-dreams-exclusive-photos/ |archive-date=May 7, 2014 |access-date=May 7, 2014 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}{{cite web |date=21 January 2014 |title=Sundance Reveals New Talent John Boyega in 'Imperial Dreams' |url=https://www.thewrap.com/sundance-reveals-star-talent-john-boyega-imperial-dreams/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628045727/http://www.thewrap.com/sundance-reveals-star-talent-john-boyega-imperial-dreams/ |archive-date=28 June 2014 |access-date=May 7, 2014 |website=TheWrap}} The film had its world premiere at 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2014.{{cite web |date=10 January 2014 |title=Sundance 2014: The Next Lineup |url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/sundance-2014-next |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122055848/http://www.indiewire.com/article/sundance-2014-next |archive-date=22 January 2014 |access-date=January 18, 2014 |website=IndieWire}}{{cite web |date=20 January 2014 |title=Interview with Imperial Dreams Producer Katherine Fairfax Wright |url=http://filmmakermagazine.com/83678-interview-with-imperial-dreams-producer-katherine-fairfax-wright/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210231420/http://filmmakermagazine.com/83678-interview-with-imperial-dreams-producer-katherine-fairfax-wright/ |archive-date=10 February 2014 |access-date=May 7, 2014 |website=Filmmaker}} It won the Audience Award at the festival.{{cite web |date=26 January 2014 |title=Sundance: 'Whiplash' & 'Rich Hill' Win Grand Jury Awards; Dramatic Directing Goes To Cutter Hodierne For 'Fishing Without Nets' |url=https://deadline.com/2014/01/sundance-film-festival-winners-2014-awards-list-671058/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612062005/http://www.deadline.com/2014/01/sundance-film-festival-winners-2014-awards-list/ |archive-date=12 June 2014 |access-date=January 26, 2014 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}{{cite web |date=26 January 2014 |title='Whiplash' Owns the 2014 Sundance Film Festival Awards Netting Two Top Prizes |url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/the-2014-sundance-film-festival-winners-as-they-come-in |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507014337/http://www.indiewire.com/article/the-2014-sundance-film-festival-winners-as-they-come-in |archive-date=7 May 2016 |access-date=January 26, 2014 |website=IndieWire}} The film was released as a Netflix original film on February 3, 2017 but removed in February 2023.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Kasey |date=2023-01-05 |title='Imperial Dreams': Netflix Original Movie Leaving in February 2023 |url=https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/leaving-soon/imperial-dreams-netflix-original-movie-leaving-in-february-2023/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=What's on Netflix |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Kasey |date=2023-05-03 |title=Every Netflix Original Show and Movie Removed from Netflix |url=https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/every-netflix-original-removed-from-netflix/ |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=What's on Netflix |language=en}}

Plot

A 21-year-old reformed gangster Bambi's devotion to his family, particularly his son Daytone, and his family's future are put to the test when he is released from prison and returns to his violent old stomping grounds in Watts, Los Angeles. Themes include mass incarceration, the importance of education, and the many obstacles present in the system that prevent those interested in rehabilitation from surviving when placed back in society.

Cast

John Boyega as Bambi
Rotimi Akinosho as Wayne
Keke Palmer as Samaara
Glenn Plummer as Uncle Shrimp
Kellita Smith as Tanya
De'Aundre Bonds as Gideon
Sufe Bradshaw as Detective Gill
Jernard Burks as Cornell
Nora Zehetner as Janine
Anika Noni Rose as Miss Price
Maximiliano Hernández as Detective Hernandez
Ethan and Justin Coach as Daytone
Todd Louiso as Peter Hall
Sufe Bradshaw as Detective Gill
Wilfred Lopez as Jail visitor
Zilah Mendoza as Work Source Woman

Production

The title Imperial Dreams references a point in the movie where the nature of emperors of the projects is expounded upon. It's also a reference to the housing projects where the movie takes place, Imperial Courts, in Watts.

Reception

File:"Imperial Dreams" Wins the Best Of NEXT Audience Award (12186645506).jpg.]]

Imperial Dreams received positive reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 91% of 11 film critics have given the film a positive review, with an average rating of 7.3 out of 10.{{cite web |title=Imperial Dreams (2014) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/imperial_dreams/ |work=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango Media |access-date=May 15, 2014 |archive-date=May 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515170741/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/imperial_dreams/ |url-status=live }}

Geoffrey Berkshire of Variety, in his review called the film "Bighearted yet surprisingly nuanced."{{cite web|title=Sundance Film Review: 'Imperial Dreams'|date=20 January 2014|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/sundance-film-review-imperial-dreams-1201064793/|work=Variety|access-date=May 7, 2014|archive-date=15 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515200642/http://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/sundance-film-review-imperial-dreams-1201064793/|url-status=live}} Justin Lowe by his review for The Hollywood Reporter praised the film in calling it "An assured debut that stands to connect with a diverse audience."{{cite web|title=Imperial Dreams: Sundance Review|date=25 January 2014|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/imperial-dreams-sundance-review-674116|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=May 7, 2014|archive-date=14 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414033226/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/imperial-dreams-sundance-review-674116|url-status=live}} Chase Whale of Indiewire graded the film B+ by saying that "John Boyega first wowed audiences with his dynamite performance in Attack the Block. Once again playing the anti-hero, Imperial Dreams is another victory lap for this young actor, who's going to go on to do big, big things."{{cite web|title=Sundance Review: 'Imperial Dreams' Features A Knockout Performance From 'Attack the Block' Star John Boyega|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/sundance-review-imperial-dreams-features-another-knockout-performance-from-attack-the-blocks-john-boyega-20140126|work=Indiewire|date=26 January 2014 |access-date=May 7, 2014|archive-date=May 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514235237/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/sundance-review-imperial-dreams-features-another-knockout-performance-from-attack-the-blocks-john-boyega-20140126|url-status=live}}