One of the festival favs from Sundance, Morris From America, will be released this week in theaters. This one could be a late summer sleeper!
Distributed by A24, Morris From America centers on Morris Gentry (Markees Christmas, in a breakout performance), a 13-year-old who has just relocated with his single father, Curtis (Robinson) to Heidelberg, Germany. Morris, who fancies himself the next Notorious B.I.G., is a fish-out-of-water – a budding hip-hop star in an EDM (electronic dance music) world. To complicate matters further, Morris quickly falls hard for his cool, rebellious, 15-year-old classmate Katrin (Lina Keller). Morris sets out against all odds to take the hip-hop world by storm and win the girl of his dreams.
The film won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, as well as kudos for its star, Craig Robinson, who took home the Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Award for Acting for his touching and nuanced performance in his first dramatic role. The film features an extensive soundtrack of hip-hop standards, including Craig Mack’s “Flava in Ya Ear,” Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy,” Jeru the Damaja’s “Come Clean,” and, featured in the trailer, “Nobody Speak” by DJ Shadow (feat. Run the Jewels).
A hit at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, the film is written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Chad Hartigan (This Is Martin Bonner), “Morris From America” is a delightfully original take on growing up, following your dreams, and finding your voice.
Morris From America opens in select cities, this Friday, August 19.
Check out four clips, the original trailer, and some images from the film, below.
