Frownland (film)

Frownland is a 2007 American independent film written and directed by Ronald Bronstein. It stars Dore Mann as Keith, a self-described "troll", who sweats and stutters his way through his job as a door-to-door salesman, dubiously selling coupons to assist people affected by multiple sclerosis. The film is populated by a cast of characters as dysfunctional and full of neuroses as Keith. The title comes from the song "Frownland" off the album Trout Mask Replica,[1] by Captain Beefheart (who suffered from multiple sclerosis).

Frownland
Promotional poster
Directed byRonald Bronstein
Produced byMarc Raybin
Story byRonald Bronstein
StarringDore Mann
CinematographySean Price Williams
Edited byRonald Bronstein
Release date
  • March 9, 2007 (2007-03-09) (SXSW)
  • March 7, 2008 (2008-03-07) (United States)
Running time
106 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

It premiered at South by Southwest in 2007, where it won the Special Jury Prize,[2] and was self-distributed in New York City on March 7, 2008.[3]

Cast
  • Dore Mann as Keith
  • Paul Grimstad as Charles
  • David Sandholm as Sandy
  • Carmine Marino as Carmine
  • Mary Bronstein (wife of director Ronald Bronstein)[4] as Laura

Awards

Frownland won Best Film Not Playing at a Theater Near You at the Gotham Awards in 2007.[5]

Release

Frownland opened on March 7, 2008, at the IFC Center in New York City, where it was introduced by Lodge Kerrigan, who had previously seen the film at the Maryland Film Festival.[6]

Home media

The film was released on DVD by Factory 25 on September 29, 2009.[7]

References
  1. Schwartz, Dennis (February 11, 2011). "Lynch's Eraserhead has nothing on this head-trip pic when it comes to weirdness". Ozus' World Movie Reviews. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  2. Macaulay, Scott (March 18, 2007). "Juror Notes (Smiling on Frownland)". Filmmaker. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  3. Tsai, Martin (March 7, 2008). "Turning That Smile Upside Down". The New York Sun. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  4. Slant magazine interview with Bronstein
  5. Guerrasio, Jason (August 29, 2007). "Bleak Moments by David Lowery". Filmmaker. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  6. Bennett, Bruce (September 5, 2007). "Scratching at a City of Strangers". The New York Sun. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
  7. "Frownland". Factory 25. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
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