Mutt (film)
Mutt is a 2023 drama film directed, written and produced by Vuk Lungulov-Klotz in his feature directorial debut.
| Mutt | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Vuk Lungulov-Klotz |
| Written by | Vuk Lungulov-Klotz |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Matthew Pothier |
| Edited by | Adam Dicterow |
| Music by |
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Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Strand Releasing |
Release date |
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Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages |
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The film had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2023 where actor Lío Mehiel won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Acting.
Premise
In one day, Feña, a trans man, rekindles his relationships with his foreign father, his straight ex-boyfriend and his estranged younger half-sister after having lost touch with them since his gender transitioning.
Cast
- Lío Mehiel as Feña, a trans man in his 20s
- Cole Doman as John, Feña's straight ex-boyfriend
- MiMi Ryder as Zoe, Feña's estranged younger half-sister
- Alejandro Goic as Pablo, Feña's father
- Sarah Herrman as Jenny, a young woman Feña meets in a night club who's also John's cousin
- Jari Jones as Fiona, Feña's roommate
- Jasai Chase Owens as Aidan, Feña's friend[1]
- Ben Groh as Mark, Feña's friend[2]
Production
During the Deadline Studio panel at Sundance Film Festival, Lungulov-Klotz revealed that he wrote the script of Mutt six years prior and recalled the experience as "trying to place all of his fears in the film".[3] The principal photography began at the start of fall 2022.[4]
Release
Mutt had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, on January 23, 2023.[5] At the premiere, the film screened with open captions after jury walkout due to a captioning malfunction three days prior.[6] The film had its international premiere during the Generation 14plus program at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival and won Special Mention award.[7][8] In April 2023, Strand Releasing acquired distribution rights to the film.[9]
Reception
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 84% based on 32 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10.[10]
Leslie Felperin of The Hollywood Reporter deemed Mutt as "one of the best films about post-transition adjustment".[11]
References
- "Sundance 2023 Film Review: Mutt ★★★★". 24 January 2023.
- "Sundance 2023 Film Review: Mutt ★★★★". 24 January 2023.
- Carey, Matthew (January 22, 2023). "Director Vuk Lungulov-Klotz, Actor Lío Mehiel On Their Nuanced Portrayal Of Trans Experience In 'Mutt': "I Tried To Place All Of My Fears Into This Movie" – Sundance Studio". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- Tauer, Kristen (January 24, 2023). "MiMi Ryder Makes Her Own Sundance Debut". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (December 7, 2022). "Sundance Film Festival Lineup Set With Ukraine War, Little Richard, Michael J. Fox, Judy Blume Docs; Pics With Anne Hathaway, Emilia Clarke, Jonathan Majors; More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- Welk, Brian (January 21, 2023). "'Mutt' and 'A Thousand and One' to Screen with Open Captions in Sundance Premieres After U.S. Jury Walkout — Exclusive". IndieWire. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- Azad, Navid Nikkhah (January 19, 2023). "Berlinale Generation 2023 – Tides of Hope". Deed News. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- Azad, Navid Nikkhah (February 26, 2023). "Berlinale 2023 full list of award winners". Deed News. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- Keslassy, Elsa (April 7, 2023). "Sundance Prizewinning Trans Drama 'Mutt' Finds North American Home With Strand Releasing (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- "Mutt". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
- Felperin, Leslie (January 27, 2023). "'Mutt' Review: A Young Trans Man Tackles Multiple Crises in a Heartfelt Feature Debut". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 28, 2023.