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A 21-year-old construction worker in New Mexico joins a community of queer rodeo performers in search of their own version of the American dream. (R, 99 min.)
4:30 PM
4:30 PM
7:30 PM
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4:30 PM
7:00 PM
Dylan (Charlie Plummer), a soft-spoken 21-year-old construction worker, is the de facto father figure to his little brother and works odd jobs to help the family get by. After he finds himself with the opportunity to work at a ranch, he is welcomed by a vibrant community of rodeo performers who openly explore their identities and sexuality. He is especially drawn to Sky (Eve Lindley), a force of nature who Dylan connects with deeply, as he begins to forge his own identity. Writer/Director Luke Gilford, making his feature film directorial debut, sets his moving and exhilarating cinematic reinvention of the coming-of-age story against stunning Western landscapes to boldly reimagine a hopeful exploration of first love, found family, and self-discovery that is both timely and timeless.
[Variance Films]
Starring: Charlie Plummer, Eve Lindley, Rene Rosado, Mason Alexander Park, and Robyn Lively
Director: Luke Gilford
Genre: Drama
"A glorious portrait of rural queer Americana."
— Kristy Puchko, Mashable
"A tender and moving piece about how it often takes other people to help us find ourselves."
— Brian Tallerico, RogerEbert.com
"It’s not a grand landscape but a small portrait of wistfulness and wanting in the West, fluttering and touching."
— Richard Whittaker, Austin Chronicle
"Plummer’s performance, a marvel of the taciturn turned wide awake, sets him up as one of the great actors of his generation."
— Ryan Lattanzio, indieWire
"More than anything, Gilford’s film ought to be lauded for the way it continues telling a story about a subculture that few know exist."
— Krysta Fauria, Associated Press
"A tender and uncomplicated tale about a young man feeling through his sexuality after a troupe of queer ranchers take him under their wing."
— Saffron Maeve, Globe and Mail
"Offering a fresh perspective on familiar themes of acceptance and belonging, this quietly powerful coming-of-age drama resonates with authenticity."
— Todd Jorgenson, Cinemalogue
"National Anthem is tender and sweet, and it expresses all of these things in its visual language, allowing these sensations to be present without speaking them out loud."
— Sheila O'Malley, RogerEbert.com
"Beyond its touching love story, National Anthem shares with Gilford’s monograph a striking directness in its presentation of the queer rodeo community. The film feels delicately radical."
— Tim Grierson, Screen International
"Cowriter/director Luke Gilford expands on his 2020 photography book ‘National Anthem: America’s Queer Rodeo’ with a joyous celebration of queer life and the freedom to find oneself on one’s own terms."
— Laura Clifford, Reeling Reviews
"Director/co-screenwriter Luke Gilford’s professional resume and his personal brushes with queer rodeo give this feature debut a sense of authenticity as it captures a unique, expressive and welcoming home on the range."
— Randy Myers, San Jose Mercury News
