The Royal Road

The Royal Road
The Royal Road
Directed by	Jenni Olson
Narrated by	Jenni Olson
Release date	January 23, 2015 (Sundance);
Running time	65 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

The Royal Road is a 2015 documentary film directed by Jenni Olson. The film premiered in the New Frontier section of the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. In the film's voiceover, Olson reflects on her butch identity and experiences of unrequited love. The film went on to earn the award for Best LGBTQ Film at the 2015 Ann Arbor Film Festival. Consisting entirely of 16mm urban landscape shots and a lyrical stream of consciousness voiceover, the film touches on a wide range of topics from reflections on classic Hollywood film to the history of the Spanish colonization of California and the Mexican American War. A voiceover cameo appearance by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner serves as the centerpiece for the film's focal point segment entitled, "In Defense of Nostalgia."

Production[edit]

Olson cited Sherman's March and Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo as influences.^[1] San Francisco Film Society was the film's fiscal sponsor. The film had its Bay Area premiere on April 29, 2015 at the SFFS's San Francisco International Film Festival. Olson also crowdfunded $24,038 towards the production of the film.^[2] Olson's wife, Julie Dorf, produced the film.^[3]

Reception[edit]

Of the film, Dennis Harvey wrote in Variety that "The pic could hardly be smaller or quieter by conventional standards, assembly on all levels is serenely accomplished."^[4]

References[edit]

^ Iwasaki, Scott. "Film connects past with the present". The Park Record. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
^ Olson, Jenni. "The Royal Road - a film by Jenni Olson". Kickstarter. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
^ Grady, Pam. "Jenni Olson's 'The Royal Road' on its way to Sundance". SF Gate. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
^ Harvey, Dennis (23 January 2015). "Sundance Film Review: 'The Royal Road'". Variety. Retrieved February 15, 2015.

External links[edit]

The Royal Road on the Internet Movie Database
Official website

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[1] Iwasaki, Scott. "Film connects past with the present". The Park Record. Retrieved February 6, 2015.

[2] Olson, Jenni. "The Royal Road - a film by Jenni Olson". Kickstarter. Retrieved February 3, 2015.

[3] Grady, Pam. "Jenni Olson's 'The Royal Road' on its way to Sundance". SF Gate. Retrieved February 15, 2015.

[4] Harvey, Dennis (23 January 2015). "Sundance Film Review: 'The Royal Road'". Variety. Retrieved February 15, 2015.

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