Effervescent and endearingly awkward, ‘Seriously Red’, will make you cringe in solidarity and curl your toes in delight.
Written by and starring Krew Boylan as Red, and directed by Gracie Otto, this charming feel-good film brings weird to centre stage.
Following the mad cap antics of Red, a hot mess on legs who is determined to make something of herself, the film veers from playful to sucker punches of emotion, traversing the frustrations of feeling like you don’t belong and don’t know where you’re going.
After a disastrous work event leaves her unemployed, and finally fed up with her mother’s heartbreakingly-hurtful lack of belief in her potential, Red finds herself on a new path. But one she’s been preparing for her whole life, ever since she discovered Dolly Parton.
Finding her ‘family’ at the drag club, Red enters the impersonation scene, becoming Dolly and romancing Kenny Rogers.
After hitting the heights of impersonator success, Red realises she can’t live her life as a copy of someone else (no matter how wise and wonderful Dolly is).
As all good finding-yourself stories do, the film follows her highs and lows, through the break ups and break downs, and you see her learn to love herself (as the audience does too).
With a cast which includes Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale, Celeste Barber, Thomas Campbell and Daniel Webber – the film feels fresh and modern but shot through a haze of ‘70s nostalgia.
Sassy and heartfelt with laugh-out-loud moments and dollops of Dolly wisdom sprinkled throughout, ‘Seriously Red’ serves up a sweet cup of cinematic ambition.
