Raindance Film Festival 2024: National Anthem

Set in the sweltering heat of the American Southwest, a young construction worker’s search for employment takes him to a community of queer rodeo performers, working on a ranch and building their own version of the American dream. Supporting his little brother and alcoholic mother while also working on the ranch himself, Dylan (Charlie Plummer) begins a life-changing journey of friendship, love and exploration that pushes him beyond his own boundaries.

National Anthem is a self-assured debut from director and writer Luke Gilford that seizes the reins on the dusty and rugged environment of New Mexico, and flips the stereotypical perspective of the cowboy lifestyle on its head. Drawing inspiration from his 2020 monograph which photographed members of the International Gay Rodeo Association, Gilford takes the deserted mountain ranges of the state and presents to us a progressive view of the conventions of the West. With a warm and tender approach, the movie represents a faction of society that evidently exists, yet in some deep corners of the United States remains unacknowledged and disrespected.

In the saddle of the movie is Plummer, who is at first reserved yet but curious to explore his liberating new surroundings. Paired on-screen with the vivacious Eve Lindley as Sky, the plot hurtles along with an exciting sense of adventure and trepidation, all the while taking time to absorb the beautiful surroundings and allowing ample time for character development. Mason Alexander Park also plays their part stunningly as Carrie, proving often to be the main source of education above the heart and emotion, making National Anthem more than just a dramatic experience.

The film is visually mesmerising, partly due to the setting, but also thanks to Katelin Arizmendi’s gorgeous cinematography and Emily Batson’s costume design, both of which bring what could be considered a bland palate to life with vibrancy and creativity. The movie maintains a constant feeling of authenticity, almost fooling the viewer into believing we are simply observing the daily lives of real people. The residents at the House of Splendor ranch live lives that are so free and so natural, that we forget the complexities of the outside world and the evils that hide in the lonely darkness.

Through masterful storytelling, Gilford’s characters grow because of the adversity they face and the heartbreak they carry, but one thing stands true above all else: the viewer shouldn’t just appreciate the thoughtfulness of these elements, but the message behind them and the tales of each character. Whatever our walk of life, we all have a story to tell.

Guy Lambert

National Anthem does not have a release date yet. For more information about Raindance Film Festival, visit their website here.

Watch the trailer for National Anthem here: