Getting its world premiere at the London Comedy Film Festival earlier this year, Jamie Adams’ directorial debut, Benny & Jolene, is just weeks away from arriving in cinemas this summer.
Charlotte Ritchie (Fresh Meat) and Craig Roberts (Submarine) top a great cast, and with its June release date fast approaching, Verve have released a great first clip from the film, teasing a little of the comedy, and difficulty, of traversing the music industry as two young rising musicians.
Benny and Jolene are a folk duo, supposedly on the up. But 19 year old Jolene is having trouble convincing her writing partner Benny to become more commercial. Too many industry types get involved, leaving Jolene feeling dazed and confused and Benny marginalised. Now they are on a crowded tour busy on their way to a festival in the most beautiful, yet remote, location – forcing them to confront their ambitions and emotions for the first time. Can they both get back to where they once belonged, and move forward together, or will all be lost in the noise and confusion?
Ritchie and Roberts star alongside Rosamund Hanson, Tom Rosenthal, Dolly Weels, Ian Smith, Nick Mohammed, Laura Patch, and Keiron Self.
Adams is making his feature debut at the helm, directing from his own script, and producing alongside Jon Rennie.
Adams and Rennie have also reunited for the writer-director’s follow-up feature, A Wonderful Christmas Time, starring Dylan Edwards (Pramface, Svengali) and Laura Haddock (Da Vinci’s Demons, Guardians of the Galaxy), and it goes without saying that we’re already excited about that too.
Benny & Jolene will be released in the UK on 6th June. Smart money says it should be one of the best films our shores have to offer this year, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see an appearance from the film and all its talent come awards season at the end of the year, particularly in the Independent and Rising Star categories. For now, here’s the first clip from the upcoming comedy, along with the recently relaunched trailer, following the title change from Jolene: The Indie Folk Star to its current name. Enjoy.
