Welcome to the Dollhouse, Waitress among Festival films celebrating May anniversaries – sundance.org – Sundance Institute

Posted: May 11, 2022 at 11:31 am

By Vanessa Zimmer

May blooms with the birthdays of a couple of popular school comedies from the Sundance Film Festival recognized both by their film titles and by the real-life challenges reflected in their storytelling. Todd Solondzs Welcome to the Dollhouse emerged at the 1996 Festival and Brian Dannellys Saved! at the 2004 edition, releasing in theaters later those respective years.

Both films featured Heather Matarazzo, who made her debut in Welcome to the Dollhouse, playing a bullied seventh grader (the same age as she was at the time) and winning an Independent Spirit Award for her nuanced performance at that tender age. The film itself earned a Grand Jury Prize at the Festival.

Described in the Festival Film Guide as a gleeful, nondenominational, politically incorrect comedy for anyone whos been to Bible camp, Saved! follows the flow of life at a Christian high school. Matarazzo portrays a student who wants to be part of the in clique.

Two other Sundance alums observing May anniversaries are Waitress, with Keri Russell receiving acclaim in the lead role, and the Irish film Once, a modern-day musical.

All four are worthy of birthday celebrations in your own home. Cake is optional.

See the original post:
Welcome to the Dollhouse, Waitress among Festival films celebrating May anniversaries - sundance.org - Sundance Institute

Related Posts