““Director Gwen Wynne brings a novel perspective to her feature film debut... the byplay between the two sisters (Danielle Savre, Skye McCole Bartusiak) is fresh and funny. {Josh} Peck brings a lot of energy and heart to his portrayal.”
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Wild About Harry (formerly known as American Primitive) is a drama, set in Cape Cod in 1973. The story is character-driven, with comic and heart wrenching turns that follow an idiosyncratic, recently widowed British father and his struggle to withhold a secret from his two teenage daughters that risks tearing their family apart.
Alternately funny and heartbreaking, Wild About Harry is a parallel love story, richly painted on a canvas of small town suspicion, traditional family values, and the rapidly changing sexual identity of America in an era of unrest.
Set in the popular tourist destination of Cape Cod, the movie presents the effects of the sexual revolution in an stunning setting that has attracted artists for centuries, and looks at issues of class and family identity in New England.
““What has rarely been seen is what it means for the children themselves. Director Gwendolyn Wynne helms this autobiographical tale, set in the 1970s, of a widower for whom being with the man he loves comes with the very real risk, at that time and in many places still today, of losing his children. Told from the perspective of teenage daughter Madeline, American Primitive eschews cliches, looks beautiful, and features remarkable performances by nearly all the cast members. With stars like Tate Donovan ( Damages ) and Adam Pascal ( Rent ), not to mention a surprisingly adept dramatic turn from Stacey Dash ( Clueless ), American Primitive is certain to be a popular film at this year’s festival and a likely candidate for a theatrical distribution. But the film’s real standout is 20-year-old star Danielle Savre, who should find more film work in her future.”
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“Movies have great power. “Wild About Harry” hopes to strengthen and reinforce the position that all gay fathers and mothers raising children deserve equal rights under the law and in every corner of society.
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Read the Focus on Film article about our movie here
