Festivals >> Sundance >> 2006 >> Independent Feature Film Competition: Dramatic

Come Early Morning (Country: US; Director: Joey Lauren Adams; Writer: Joey Lauren Adams; Cast: Ashley Judd, Jason T Davis, Richard Lee Crow, Laura Prepon, Christine Renee Ward, Candyce Hinkle, Scott Wilson, Tim Blake Nelson, Pat Corley, Diane Ladd, Wally Welch)
A writer recounts his teenage experiences in tough 1980s Astoria, New York - where all his friends ended up dead, as junkies, or in prison - exploring how he managed to emerge unscathed. World Premiere.

Echo Park, L.A. (Quinceañera) (Country: US; Director: Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland; Writer: Richard Glatzer, Wash Westmoreland; Cast: Jesus Castanos, Araceli Guzman-Rico, Emily Rios, J.R. Cruz, Listette Avila, Alicia Sixtos, Hector Quevedo, Germán Campos, Carlos Linares, Johnny Chavez, Carmen Aguirre)
Disaffected Latino teenagers come of age in a gentrifying community in Echo Park district of Los Angeles. Shown at Sundance under the title Quinceanera. World Premiere.
Full Review

Flannel Pajamas (Country: US; Director: Jeff Lipsky; Writer: Jeff Lipsky; Cast: Justin Kirk, Julianne Nicholson, Rebecca Schull, Jamie Harrold, Chelsea Altman, Michelle Federer, Tom Bower, Stephanie Roth Haberle, George Riddle, Lauren Bittner, Stephanie March)
A magical evening in a local diner sparks an intense courtship and an emotionally mercurial marriage that challenges two New Yorkers to the core. World Premiere.

Forgiven (Country: US; Director: Paul Fitzgerald; Writer: Paul Fitzgerald; Cast: Cooper Agar, Don Henderson Baker, Al Butler, Doug Chancey, Traci Dinwiddie, Thomas Elliot, Thomas Elliott, Bradley Evans, Libby Fitzgerald, Paul Fitzgerald, Susan Floyd)
On the eve of his campaign launch for a seat in the US Senate, a small town District Attorney receives word that the governor has exonerated a death row inmate whom he had prosecuted five years earlier. World Premiere.

A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints (Country: US; Director: Dito Montiel; Writer: Dito Montiel; Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Shia LaBeouf, Chazz Palminteri, Dianne Wiest, Channing Tatum, Melonie Diaz, Martin Compston, Eric Roberts, Rosario Dawson, Peter Tambakis, Anthony DeSando, Julia Garro, Eleonore Hendricks)
A man haunted by a summer from his past, returns to his old stamping ground to confront old ghosts. World Premiere.
Full Review See: Martin Compston Q&A about A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints

Half Nelson (Country: US; Director: Ryan Fleck; Writer: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck; Cast: Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps, Anthony Mackie, Monique Curnen, Karen Chilton, Tina Holmes, Collins Pennie, Deborah Rush, Jay O. Sanders, Bryce Silver, Sebastian Sozzi)
An inner city junior high school teacher with a drug habit forms an unlikely friendship with one of his students after she discovers his secret. World Premiere.
Full Review

The Hawk Is Dying (Country: US; Director: Julian Goldberger; Writer: Harry Crews, Julian Goldberger; Cast: Paul Giamatti, Michelle Williams, Michael Pitt, Rusty Schwimmer, Robert Wisdom, Ann Wedgeworth, Mark Campbell, Ayana Rhoden, Taylor Simpson, John Hostetter, Steve DuMouchel)
A Gainesville, Florida auto upholsterer attempts to subvert his mundane life by training a wild, red-tailed hawk. World Premiere.

In Between Days (Country: US; Director: So Yong Kim; Writer: Bradley Rust Grey, So Yong Kim; Cast: Kate Clancey, Jamie Hebert, Taegu Andy Kang, Ivy Khan, Bokja Kim)
Love story about a migrant teen who falls for her best friend. World Premiere.
Full Review

Ordinary Boys (Chicos normales) (Country: Spain; Director: Daniel Hernandez; Writer: Daniel Hernández, Gabi Martínez ; Cast: Rabia Bouchfira, El-Khader Aoulasse, Youseff Belefki)
Distinctive and timely study of a trio of young people in the region of Morocco where five of the terrorists responsible for Spain's 11th March 2004 bombings were born and bred.

Puccini For Beginners (Country: US; Director: Maria Maggenti; Writer: Maria Maggenti; Cast: Elizabeth Reaser, Gretchen Mol, Justin Kirk, Julianne Nicholson, Tina Benko, Jennifer Dundas, Kate Simses, Brian Letscher, Will Bozarth, Ken Barnett, Becca Anderson)
On the rebound from her latest lesbian relationship, a New York writer finds herself in two surprising and complicated love affairs in this only-in-New-York screwball comedy. World Premiere.

Right At Your Door (Country: US; Director: Chris Gorak; Writer: Chris Gorak; Cast: Mary McCormack, Rory Cochrane, Tony Perez, Scotty Noyd jr, Max Kasch, Jon Huertas)
Multiple dirty bombs are detonated and spread deadly toxic ash and mass panic throughout Los Angeles. With limited information, time and supplies, and in the midst of city - wide chaos, a married couple struggles to survive. World Premiere.
Full Review

Sherrybaby (Country: US; Director: Laurie Collyer; Writer: Laurie Collyer; Cast: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Brad William Henke, Giancarlo Esposito, Sam Bottoms, Ryan Simpkins, Kate Burton, Bridget Barkan, Danny Trejo)
After serving a three-year prison sentence, a young woman quickly discovers that coming back to the world she left behind is far more difficult than she had planned. World Premiere.
Full Review

Sleeping Dogs (Sleeping Dogs Lie, Stay) (Country: US; Director: Bobcat Goldthwait; Writer: Bobcat Goldthwait; Cast: Melinda Page Hamilton, Bryce Johnson, Geoffrey Pierson, Colby French, Jack Plotnick, Brian Posehn)
A youthful, impulsive sexual encounter opens the door to a dark comedy about the complexities of honesty. Shown at Sundance under the title Stay. World Premiere.
Full Review See: Bobcat Goldthwait interview about Sleeping Dogs and his plans for World's Greatest Dad

Somebodies (Country: US; Director: Hadjii; Writer: Hadjii; Cast: Tyler Craig, Patt Brown, Nard Holston, Nick Lewis, Iron E Singleton, Amber Chaney, Roland Williams Jr., Anthony K. Hyatt, Corey Redding, Quante Strickland, Eric Register)
Surrounded by eccentric relatives, prankster classmates, and more-or-less rehabilitated ex-cons, a black college student stumbles along the path to responsible adulthood. World Premiere.
See: Sundance Film Festival 2006: Day 3, Sundance Film Festival 2006: Day 7

Stephanie Daley (Country: US; Director: Hilary Brougher; Writer: Hilary Brougher; Cast: Tilda Swinton, Amber Tamblyn, Timothy Hutton, Denis O'Hare, Melissa Leo, Jim Gaffigan, Halley Feiffer, Kel O'Neill, Deirdre O'Connell, Neal Huff, John Ellison Conlee)
A forensic psychologist, seven months pregnant, is hired to learn the truth behind a teenager’s denial of accusations that she concealed her pregnancy and committed infanticide. World Premiere.
Full Review

Wristcutters: A Love Story (Country: USA; Director: Goran Dukic; Writer: Goran Dukic, Etgar Keret; Cast: Patrick Fugit, Shannyn Sossamon, Shea Whigham, Tom Waits, Will Arnett, Cameron Bowen, John Hawkes, Leslie Bibb, Abraham Benrubi, Mikal P. Lazarev, Mary Pat Gleason)
An offbeat comedy, a love story, a road movie - but everybody’s dead! World Premiere.
Full Review Official Site, View Trailer

Box office and information