Frybread Face and Me

Frybread Face and Me is a 2023 American coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Billy Luther. It stars Keir Tallman, Charley Hogan, Sarah H. Natani, Martin Sensmeier, and Kahara Hodges. Taika Waititi serves as an executive producer.

Frybread Face and Me
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBilly Luther
Written byBilly Luther
Produced byChad Burris
Starring
CinematographyPeter Simonite
Edited byFred Koschmann
Music byRyan Beveridge
Production
companies
Distributed byARRAY
Release dates
  • March 11, 2023 (2023-03-11) (SXSW)
  • November 24, 2023 (2023-11-24)
Running time
82 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

It had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 11, 2023 and was released on November 24, 2023 in limited theaters by ARRAY and on Netflix.

Premise

A young boy from San Diego is sent to spend the summer with his Navajo grandmother on the reservation in Arizona, where he meets and connects with his cousin.

Cast
  • Keir Tallman as Benny
  • Charley Hogan as Frybread Face (real name Dawn)
  • Sarah H. Natani as Grandma
  • Martin Sensmeier as Marvin
  • Kahara Hodges as Aunt Lucy
  • Morningstar Angeline as Ann
  • Leilani Taliaferro as Ida
  • Nasheen Sleuth as Aunt Sharon
  • Jeremiah Bitsui as Uncle Roger
  • Sunny Dooley as Navajo doctor
  • Billy Luther as adult Benny (narrator)

Production

In June 2021, it was announced Morningstar Angeline and Martin Sensmeier had joined the cast of the film, with Billy Luther directing from a screenplay he wrote, with Taika Waititi executive producing.[2] In September 2021, it was announced Keir Tallman, Sarah H. Natani, Kahara Hodges, Charley Hogan, and Jeremiah Bitsui had joined the cast of the film.[3]

Principal photography took place in New Mexico.[4][5]

Release

Frybread Face and Me had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 11, 2023.[6][7] It screened at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival in the Discovery section on September 11, 2023.[8][9] In November 2023, ARRAY acquired distribution rights to the film in the United States, United Kingdom and Ireland. On November 24, 2023 the film received a limited theatrical release, alongside a Netflix release.[10]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 97% of 29 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.4/10.[11] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 71 out of 100, based on 9 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[12]

Angie Han of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "What Frybread Face and Me lacks in drama, it makes up for in a boundless affection for its characters and an appreciation for the everyday details of their lives."[13] Lisa Kennedy of Variety wrote: "Watching this family interact is a reminder how rare it is to see so many American indigenous actors in a space, weaving the unique and universal into stories that expand our storehouse of their experience."[14]

References
  1. "Frybread Face And Me (15)". British Board of Film Classification. November 23, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  2. Patten, Dominic (June 22, 2021). "Taika Waititi EP'd 'Frybread Face & Me' Casts MorningStar Angeline & Martin Sensmeier; Billy Luther Directing & Penning Film". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  3. Patten, Dominic (September 21, 2021). "Taika Waititi-EP'd 'Frybread Face & Me' Sees Macro, River Road, REI Co-op Studios & Fit Via Vi Join Billy Luther-Directed Feature". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  4. Dominic Patten, "'Frybread Face & Me' Director Billy Luther & EP Taika Waititi On SXSW Debut, Original Stories, 'Star Wars,' Savvy Audiences, & Expanding Horizons". Deadline Hollywood, March 11, 2023.
  5. Dotson, Bernie (September 21, 2021). "'Frybread Face & Me' wraps up New Mexico filming". Navajo-Hopi Observer. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  6. D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 11, 2023). "SXSW Lineup Includes 'Dungeons & Dragons' On Opening Night, 'Evil Dead Rise', Eva Longoria's 'Flamin' Hot', A24's 'Problemista' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  7. "Frybread Face and Me". South by Southwest. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  8. Hazelton, John (August 3, 2022). "TIFF Discovery and Midnight Madness line-ups revealed". Screen Daily.
  9. "Frybread Face and Me". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  10. Tangcay, Jazz (November 3, 2023). "Array Acquires 'Frybread Face and Me,' Sets Limited Theatrical Run and Netflix Debut (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  11. "Frybread Face and Me". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  12. "Frybread Face and Me". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  13. Han, Angie (March 11, 2023). "'Frybread Face and Me' Review: A Tender Tale of Cousins, Coming of Age and Life on the Reservation". The Hollywood Reporter.
  14. Kennedy, Lisa (March 24, 2023). "'Frybread Face and Me' Review: Indigenous Filmmaker Billy Luther's Achy, Amusing Tale of Exile and Discovery". Variety.
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