SPOTLIGHT SELECTION
Inspired by his childhood as a young gay boy growing up in the conservative Soviet Union during the ‘80s, writer-director Wes Hurley blends dark comedy and poignant coming-out tale for the utterly unique Potato Dreams of America.
Young Vasili (Hersh Powers/Tyler Bocock) lives in a cramped apartment with his doting mother, Lena (Sera Barbieri/Marya Sea Kaminski), and sharp-tongued grandmother (Lea DeLaria). He has few friends, and his only other companion is an imaginary friend, who takes the form of a peculiarly hunky Jesus (Jonathan Bennett, Mean Girls). Affectionately nicknamed “Potato” by his mother, he shares her fascination with American movies and pop culture.
Potato’s enamored by the Technicolor dreams he glimpses through his black-and-white television screen, and they serve as a welcome distraction from the daily hardships he faces. Never quite fitting in with his peers, Potato braves their incessant bullying with as much strength as he can muster. His mother doesn’t seem to fare much better, making a meager living as a prison doctor, she’s sickened by the corrupt government systems she’s forced to toil within. And so she makes the decision to become a mail-order bride, taking Potato with her as they head to America in search of a better life.
They end up in Seattle, and the playful and artificially stylized staging of the film’s first half gives way to a second half more rooted in reality. Potato struggles to adapt to life under the thumb of his new step-father, John (Dan Lauria), an overbearing religious type who imposes his will on both mother and son. But as with most of the film’s characters, even John eventually reveals himself to be considerably more complicated than the uncaring brute he first appears to be.
As a stranger in a strange land, Potato jumps at the opportunity to explore his sexuality, thrilled to be leaving his past behind as he steps into a future filled with endless possibilities. Combining the sweet taste of melodrama and saltiness of camp, Potato Dreams of America is ultimately a touching ode to mothers and the dreamers they inspire.
~ Adam Lubitow
- Year2021
- Runtime95 minutes
- LanguageIn English and Russian with some English subtitles
- CountryUnited States
- DirectorWes Hurley
SPOTLIGHT SELECTION
Inspired by his childhood as a young gay boy growing up in the conservative Soviet Union during the ‘80s, writer-director Wes Hurley blends dark comedy and poignant coming-out tale for the utterly unique Potato Dreams of America.
Young Vasili (Hersh Powers/Tyler Bocock) lives in a cramped apartment with his doting mother, Lena (Sera Barbieri/Marya Sea Kaminski), and sharp-tongued grandmother (Lea DeLaria). He has few friends, and his only other companion is an imaginary friend, who takes the form of a peculiarly hunky Jesus (Jonathan Bennett, Mean Girls). Affectionately nicknamed “Potato” by his mother, he shares her fascination with American movies and pop culture.
Potato’s enamored by the Technicolor dreams he glimpses through his black-and-white television screen, and they serve as a welcome distraction from the daily hardships he faces. Never quite fitting in with his peers, Potato braves their incessant bullying with as much strength as he can muster. His mother doesn’t seem to fare much better, making a meager living as a prison doctor, she’s sickened by the corrupt government systems she’s forced to toil within. And so she makes the decision to become a mail-order bride, taking Potato with her as they head to America in search of a better life.
They end up in Seattle, and the playful and artificially stylized staging of the film’s first half gives way to a second half more rooted in reality. Potato struggles to adapt to life under the thumb of his new step-father, John (Dan Lauria), an overbearing religious type who imposes his will on both mother and son. But as with most of the film’s characters, even John eventually reveals himself to be considerably more complicated than the uncaring brute he first appears to be.
As a stranger in a strange land, Potato jumps at the opportunity to explore his sexuality, thrilled to be leaving his past behind as he steps into a future filled with endless possibilities. Combining the sweet taste of melodrama and saltiness of camp, Potato Dreams of America is ultimately a touching ode to mothers and the dreamers they inspire.
~ Adam Lubitow
- Year2021
- Runtime95 minutes
- LanguageIn English and Russian with some English subtitles
- CountryUnited States
- DirectorWes Hurley