DANDELION

Director: Nicole Riegel

2024, 113min., R

Open Caption Screening Wednesday, July 31 at 7pm

 

Writer/director Nicole Riegel’s independent film Dandelion celebrates the same authentic magic of Once, the Irish film that captured audiences’ hearts in 2007. Dandelion (KiKi Layne of If Beale Street Could Talk) is a talented singer/songwriter who’s finding it tough as a young black woman to make her voice heard in an unhospitable business. In one of those rare mind-meld moments, she connects with Casey, a Scots musician (Thomas Doherty) sharing the stage in South Dakota. Recognizing the same struggle to keep their dreams alive, they impulsively leave all their disappointments and responsibilities behind to give it another shot. Riding through the shifting light and colors of the wide open prairies, they rediscover the irresistible thrill of creating music…and the ever-possible chance of finding love. Songs by Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner of the Taylor Swift collaborators, The National. (yes, they have recorded with Taylor Swift).

“Layne gives a rollicking bluesy smash that is as electrifyingly vibrant as the film is achingly soft.” –  Robert Daniels, Screen Daily