Premiere - The Sweet East charms Paris : Premiere Night Highlights and Insights

By Mulder, Paris, MK2 Quai de Loire, 29 february 2024

The cinematic landscape took a whimsical turn last night at the MK2 Quai de Loire, where the eagerly awaited Paris premiere of The Sweet East unfolded in an event that felt like a scene straight out of its own storyline. Directed by the talented newcomer Sean Price Williams and penned by Nick Pinkerton, this film has already been creating waves since its debut at Cannes in 2023, capturing the hearts of audiences with its surreal narrative.

Despite the notable absence of Talia Ryder, one of the film's leading stars, the premiere was a spectacle of enthusiasm and appreciation for this remarkable first film. The presence of director Sean Price Williams and screenwriter Nick Pinkerton filled the evening with insightful discussions and shared excitement over the movie's reception.

The Sweet East offers viewers a fantastical road trip along the USA's East Coast through the eyes of Lillian, a high school girl whose mundane journey spirals into an extraordinary adventure following an incident at a pizza parlor. What follows is a series of encounters with a diverse array of cults and sects, painting a vivid tapestry of the mental, social, and political fractures of the United States, reminiscent of a fairy tale or a modern-day Alice in Wonderland.

This film not only stands out for its unique storytelling but also for the hurdles it overcame during its production phase. Initial financing challenges were deftly navigated thanks to Alex Ross Perry's networking prowess, leading to a stellar cast that brought the visionary script to life. With its premiere at Cannes, followed by showings at the New York Film Festival, the film secured distribution deals with Utopia for the U.S. and Potemkine Film for France.

As The Sweet East prepares for its French release in March 2024, after a successful U.S. debut in December 2023, it promises to be a cinematic journey that audiences won't soon forget. With a blend of enchantment and stark reality, the film offers a unique lens through which to view the complexities of American life, making it a must-watch for cinephiles seeking depth and magic on the silver screen.

Synopsis : 
Lillian, a young high-school student, runs away from home on a school trip. In the course of her encounters, she discovers an unsuspected world. The mental, social and political fractures of the United States, filmed like a fairy tale or a variation on Alice in Wonderland.

The Sweet East
Directed by Sean Price Williams
Written by Nick Pinkerton
Produced by Craig Butta, Alex Coco, Alex Ross Perry
Starring  Talia Ryder, Earl Cave, Simon Rex, Ayo Edebiri, Jeremy O. Harris, Jacob Elordi, Rish Shah
Cinematography : Sean Price Williams
Edited by Stephen Gurewitz
Production companies: Marathon Street, Base 12
Distributed by Utopia (United States), Potemkine Films (France)
Release dates: May 18, 2023 (Cannes), December 1, 2023 (United States), March 13, 2024 (Frace)
Running time : 104 minutes

Photos et video : Boris Colletier / Mulderville