#SXSW: “POTATO DREAMS OF AMERICA”

By Mr. Will Wong

Directed and written by Wes Hurley, this autobiographical Dark Comedy details his journey from a child fleeing the USSR with his mail order bride mother, to the United States. The Film through its central character Potato (Tyler Bocock), looks at his sexual identity and awakening with quirky humour as he goes through high school trying to conceal this part of his life from his adoptive father and homophobic schoolmates.

It also examines the American fetishization of Russians, but at the heart of the Film is the love story between mother (Marya Sea Kaminski) and son, her courage to create a better life for him at all costs even if it means being in a loveless union. And what would happen to Potato and his mother should his homophobic father John (Dan Lauria) find out about his sexuality?

The Film takes on a unique tone which goes from comedic to suspenseful but all parts entertaining. A few surprise appearances also including Mean Girls’ Jonathan Bennett as Jesus Christ!

POTATO DREAMS OF AMERICA streams at SXSW Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at 11:00 AM is in-competition in the Narrative Features category. More here.