Like Dandelion Dust will have both its Pennsylvania and Philadelphia premiere at the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival on Thursday, June 25 at 9PM. For ticket information please visit the festival website.
Location: Yards, 901 North Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 634-2600
Philadelphia Independent Film Festival Celebrates Do-It-Yourself
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Dandelion Sweeps NYC VisionFest with 4 Awards
It was a big night for Karen Kingsbury's Like Dandelion Dust tonight in New York City. The film garnered four awards for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Screenplay and Outstanding Achievement in Production awards. VisionFest is New York City's premiere festival for independent films. Producers Kevin Downes and Bobby Downes were on hand for the screening at Tribeca Cinema.
Official Press Release
Official Press Release
Saturday, June 20, 2009
New York City Premiere of Like Dandelion Dust
VisionFest is hosting the New York City premiere of Like Dandelion Dust at Tribeca Cinema at 7pm on Sunday, June 21. The film is the Official Closing Night film for the independent film festival. Producers Kevin Downes and Bobby Downes will be on hand for the Q&A following the screening.
For ticket information visit http://www.VisionFest.com
For ticket information visit http://www.VisionFest.com
Monday, June 8, 2009
'Film Threat' Review of "Dandelion Dust"
By KJ DOUGHTON
May 8, 2009
After her 1995 Oscar win for “Mighty Aphrodite,” Mira Sorvino was snared in a celluloid net of mediocre movie vehicles. She’s the real deal in Jon Gunn’s emotional, compelling tearjerker. As Wendy Porter, Sorvino conveys the hard, defensive veneer of a beaten spouse. We also sense a childhood raised in squalor and poverty. We feel the immaturity of someone who would take back her abuser, following his release from a seven-year prison term, and trust his promises that everything will work out. Ultimately, Sorvino also reveals the wisdom and heart of a mother who knows how to do the right thing. She’s amazing.
Barry Pepper is also stunning as Wendy’s alcoholic husband, Rip Porter. His name couldn’t be more revealing. When provoked, the often-volatile man rips out his fists and rips others a new one. “Like Dandelion Dust” doesn’t take the easy way out, by depicting Porter as a monster. Yes, he’s a troubled, volatile soul – but one with hope for a brighter future. Rip’s dreams of starting fresh are commendable. But is this proud, often self-involved man truly capable of staying sober while keeping his anger in check?
An onscreen adaptation of Karen Kingsbury’s 2008 novel, “Like Dandelion Dust” concerns happy, four year-old towhead Joey Campbell. Adopted by well-heeled parents Jack and Molly and living in Florida, Joey’s life is thrust into turmoil when the Porters enter his life. Wendy and Rip, it turns out, are Joey’s biological parents. They want him back.
“Like Dandelion Dust” is a fascinating study in socioeconomic contrasts. The Porters eke out a struggling existence in blue-collar Ohio, their lives stained by alcoholism and abuse. Joey’s current parents enjoy an on-the-beach homestead and multimillion-dollar bank balance. Rip fights to get what he wants, while Jack makes payoffs. The film plays fair by exposing both couples’ respective strengths and flaws.
Fully aware of his emotionally grueling premise, director Jon Gunn plays things straight. After a legal loophole allows the Porters to reclaim Joey, button-pushing questions are raised. If the Porters really loved their son, why would they yank him away from a comfortable, stable existence? If the Campbells sensed potential harm to Joey, how far would they go to ensure his safety? How could anyone recover from the abrupt uprooting of a cherished son? During a series of initial visits between Joey, Rip, and Wendy, we toggle between relief (“okay, so this might just work out!”) and dread (“this is bad.”).
How do things ultimately pan out? I wouldn’t dream of spoiling the potent denouement. Suffice to say “Like Dandelion Dust” treats its characters with respect, and suggests that people can learn from their mistakes. This isn’t one of those nihilistic revenge thrillers (“Taken”), where threatened parental instincts can only be resolved through uncompromising bloodlust. People are flawed and complicated – but ultimately capable of tremendous, healing insight.
Gunn’s film also boasts career-best acting from Pepper, and especially Sorvino. Transforming from victim into quiet hero, Wendy Porter is an unforgettable character. How did the actress pull it off? Was it those sad, timid eyes and tentative smile? Or some intangible magic that’s best left unexplained? Probably the latter. Check out “Dandelion Dust” for potent, two-hanky drama fueled by Mira Sorvino’s honest, generous gift of a performance.
SOURCE
May 8, 2009
After her 1995 Oscar win for “Mighty Aphrodite,” Mira Sorvino was snared in a celluloid net of mediocre movie vehicles. She’s the real deal in Jon Gunn’s emotional, compelling tearjerker. As Wendy Porter, Sorvino conveys the hard, defensive veneer of a beaten spouse. We also sense a childhood raised in squalor and poverty. We feel the immaturity of someone who would take back her abuser, following his release from a seven-year prison term, and trust his promises that everything will work out. Ultimately, Sorvino also reveals the wisdom and heart of a mother who knows how to do the right thing. She’s amazing.
Barry Pepper is also stunning as Wendy’s alcoholic husband, Rip Porter. His name couldn’t be more revealing. When provoked, the often-volatile man rips out his fists and rips others a new one. “Like Dandelion Dust” doesn’t take the easy way out, by depicting Porter as a monster. Yes, he’s a troubled, volatile soul – but one with hope for a brighter future. Rip’s dreams of starting fresh are commendable. But is this proud, often self-involved man truly capable of staying sober while keeping his anger in check?
An onscreen adaptation of Karen Kingsbury’s 2008 novel, “Like Dandelion Dust” concerns happy, four year-old towhead Joey Campbell. Adopted by well-heeled parents Jack and Molly and living in Florida, Joey’s life is thrust into turmoil when the Porters enter his life. Wendy and Rip, it turns out, are Joey’s biological parents. They want him back.
“Like Dandelion Dust” is a fascinating study in socioeconomic contrasts. The Porters eke out a struggling existence in blue-collar Ohio, their lives stained by alcoholism and abuse. Joey’s current parents enjoy an on-the-beach homestead and multimillion-dollar bank balance. Rip fights to get what he wants, while Jack makes payoffs. The film plays fair by exposing both couples’ respective strengths and flaws.
Fully aware of his emotionally grueling premise, director Jon Gunn plays things straight. After a legal loophole allows the Porters to reclaim Joey, button-pushing questions are raised. If the Porters really loved their son, why would they yank him away from a comfortable, stable existence? If the Campbells sensed potential harm to Joey, how far would they go to ensure his safety? How could anyone recover from the abrupt uprooting of a cherished son? During a series of initial visits between Joey, Rip, and Wendy, we toggle between relief (“okay, so this might just work out!”) and dread (“this is bad.”).
How do things ultimately pan out? I wouldn’t dream of spoiling the potent denouement. Suffice to say “Like Dandelion Dust” treats its characters with respect, and suggests that people can learn from their mistakes. This isn’t one of those nihilistic revenge thrillers (“Taken”), where threatened parental instincts can only be resolved through uncompromising bloodlust. People are flawed and complicated – but ultimately capable of tremendous, healing insight.
Gunn’s film also boasts career-best acting from Pepper, and especially Sorvino. Transforming from victim into quiet hero, Wendy Porter is an unforgettable character. How did the actress pull it off? Was it those sad, timid eyes and tentative smile? Or some intangible magic that’s best left unexplained? Probably the latter. Check out “Dandelion Dust” for potent, two-hanky drama fueled by Mira Sorvino’s honest, generous gift of a performance.
SOURCE
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Seattle Review of Dandelion Dust
by JEN GRAVES
LIKE DANDELION DUST
Barry Pepper is the unforgettable star of this film: the violent, alcoholic husband who beats his wife, goes to jail for seven years, then decides when he gets out that the only way to make up for what's been lost is to get back their son—the son that his wife (Mira Sorvino) gave up for adoption without telling him while he was in the pen (she forged his signature). The problem, of course, is that the kid has spent his entire happy little life with a wealthy couple in Florida. It is not terribly surprising that tearing him away and giving him to unstable strangers in an Ohio trailer park turns out to be a questionable proposition. But the so-so plot isn't the point here, the acting is. (There also is a shower scene just about as harrowing as, though totally different than, the one in Psycho.) Pepper and Sorvino are tremendous.
Source: TheStranger.com
LIKE DANDELION DUST
Barry Pepper is the unforgettable star of this film: the violent, alcoholic husband who beats his wife, goes to jail for seven years, then decides when he gets out that the only way to make up for what's been lost is to get back their son—the son that his wife (Mira Sorvino) gave up for adoption without telling him while he was in the pen (she forged his signature). The problem, of course, is that the kid has spent his entire happy little life with a wealthy couple in Florida. It is not terribly surprising that tearing him away and giving him to unstable strangers in an Ohio trailer park turns out to be a questionable proposition. But the so-so plot isn't the point here, the acting is. (There also is a shower scene just about as harrowing as, though totally different than, the one in Psycho.) Pepper and Sorvino are tremendous.
Source: TheStranger.com
Monday, June 1, 2009
Nevada City Film Festival - Opening Night Film
Like Dandelion Dust has been selected as the Official Opening Night Film at the Nevada City Film Festival on August 20, 2009 held in Nevada City, California. More details to come.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Seattle Film Festival with Karen Kingsbury
On May 31 in Seattle, Washington, the New York Times Bestselling author Karen Kingsbury will be a part of the Q&A session after the screening of LIKE DANDELION DUST. Tickets to the screenings can be purchased at the Seattle Film Festival website.
Showings at Seattle Int'l Film Festival
Sunday, May 31 6:30 pm, Pacific Place Cinemas 11
Monday, June 1 7:00 pm, Kirkland Performance Center
Watch audience feedback from these screenings in Seattle!
Showings at Seattle Int'l Film Festival
Sunday, May 31 6:30 pm, Pacific Place Cinemas 11
Monday, June 1 7:00 pm, Kirkland Performance Center
Watch audience feedback from these screenings in Seattle!
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