To celebrate the release of his new film, we had the chance to sit down with writer/director George Jaques about his latest film, Sunny Dancer, which arrives in UK cinemas this week.
We chat about the film’s genesis; its personal meaning to Jaques; casting Bella Ramsey, Neil Patrick Harris and more; how he wanted the film to feel “transatlantic” and what he hopes the film will teach the British film industry about making films.
Synopsis:
Written and directed by George Jaques (Black Dog), the film features an all-star ensemble including Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us), James Norton (Happy Valley), Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeer), and Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), alongside rising talents Daniel Quinn-Toye (Sterling Point), Earl Cave (Days of Bagnold Summer), Ruby Stokes (Lockwood & Co), Conrad Khan (County Lines) and Jasmine Elcock.
SUNNY DANCER is a deeply personal and profanely funny romantic comedy-drama for young adults about wanting to fit in when the world has had other plans for you. Hanging out with mates and partying hard… that’s how most teenage girls get to spend their last summer before turning 18. But not Ivy. As if conquering cancer wasn’t hard enough, Ivy’s lovingly overbearing parents have signed her up to spend the summer at what she less-than-endearingly calls “chemo camp”.
Going to the camp against her will, Ivy ends up having a summer she will never forget – finding love and meeting a group of similarly-minded misfits who just want to live life to the fullest. Because SUNNY DANCER isn’t really about illness – it’s about what happens after. It’s about being 17 and weird and brilliant. It’s about surviving and then having to actually live.
You can watch our extended chat below.
SUNNY DANCER arrives in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from 14th August.
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