SUGAR

Director: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Cast: Algenis Pérez Soto
Run Time: 114 minutes
Country: USA
Year: 2008
Language: English, Spanish with English subtitles
Rating: PG (Coarse language; sexually suggestive scenes)

Playing to eager audiences at the 2008 Sundance International Film Festival and the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival®, Sugar is the much-anticipated new feature from writing-directing team Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the duo behind the critically acclaimed Half Nelson. With Sugar, the two filmmakers have found another surprising variation on the American dream, and this time the story begins beyond America’s borders.

Growing up in the Dominican Republic, young men like Miguel “Sugar” Santos (Algenis Pérez Soto) dream of baseball, wealth and making it to the major leagues. They pin their hopes on becoming one of the chosen few to be lifted out of poverty for a shot at the big time. This dream becomes a reality for Sugar when he is flown to spring training in Arizona and then to a minor league team in Bridgewater, Iowa.

Some dreams, however, are not meant to be realized, and in a new country far from his home and family, Sugar becomes increasingly lonely. When a painful injury threatens to end his shortlived career, Sugar escapes to New York in search of a new dream and future.

Sugar is anything but a traditional sports movie. Grounded in realism, it is as much about Sugar’s inner journey as it is his outer one. After beginning in familiar narrative terrain, the film breaks free of expectations, allowing the filmmakers to explore the possibilities that may hold the fulfillment of Sugar’s American dream.

“This one slice of the American experience amounts to one of the best films of the year.” Chicago Tribune

Reviews: www.metacritic.com/film/titles/sugar

Official Site: www.sonyclassics.com/sugar/

 

Summer Cinema 2009 July 6 - EASY VIRTUE July 27 - SUGAR August 17 - IS ANYBODY THERE?