"mightily impressive follow-up to last year's 'Half Nelson'... compassionate, intelligent and politically assured filmmaking of the highest order." 4 STARS
TIME OUT
"a picture of integrity, intelligence and empathy that studiously avoids cliche" 4 STARS
Wendy Ide, THE TIMES
"Utterly gripping, profoundly moving... One of the finest films this year." 5 STARS
David Edwards, THE DAILY MIRROR
"beautiful and mesmerising... deserves to be seen by as many people as possible."
LITTLE WHITE LIES
Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's powerful and ambitious follow-up to their startlingly assured feature debut (the Oscar-nominated Half Nelson). But just as their first film was not your average high school drama, nor is SUGAR even close to being just another American sports movie.
Miguel 'Sugar' Santos (Algenis Perez Soto) realises his opportunity to achieve the American Dream, when he is picked to enter a US rookie academy and given a chance to play in the major league. But thoughts of success, fame and celebrity are thwarted by the reality of his situation. Increasingly isolated, he has to decide whether to continue on the path that is expected of him, or breakout and discover his own place in the world.
Featuring a remarkable performance by Algenis Perez Soto, SUGAR is an original and provocative portrait of the modern-day immigrant experience by two of America's most distinctive young filmmakers.
Bonus features include a exclusive interviews with writer-directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck and actors Algenis Perez Soto and Michael Gaston, an exclusive limited edition collector's booklet, stills gallery and trailer.