Author Stephen Elliott‘s directorial debut Cherry has found distribution at IFC after its premiere at the Berlinale Film Festival in February. The film didn’t receive the best reviews after its premiere but the story seems very real, raw, gritty and intriguing, which is why I’m excited for it.
For those unfamiliar with the project, check out the plot summary below.
“Angelina (Hinshaw), an 18-year-old girl on the verge of finishing high school. One morning her boyfriend (Jonny Weston) suggests she take naked pictures for money. She balks at first but then does the photo shoot, using the money to run-off with her best friend (Patel) to San Francisco. In San Francisco, while cocktailing in a strip club, Angelina meets Frances (Franco) a well-off lawyer who offers to introduce her to a different kind of world, a place full of expensive dresses and fancy parties. At the same time Angelina, using the moniker Cherry, has begun exploring the San Francisco porn industry under the direction of Margaret (Graham) a former performer turned adult film director.”
The film will have its U.S. premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival in April before a theatrical release which is rumoured for the Summer.
Cherry stars Ashley Hinshaw, Heather Graham, James Franco, Lili Taylor, Dev Patel, Jonny Weston and Diane Farr, and will be released later this year.
Check out the trailer and a bunch of stills here.