Rapper Cole meanders through a toxic mix of numbness, narcissism and alienation. Having succeeded in destroying almost every relationship he has ever had, the newly divorced musician is now letting his young daughter down, just as he has everyone else around him. Just back from an exhausting tour, he is searching for inspiration for his next song. His personal assistant Ilana tries to keep him, and everything around him, together. But somewhere in between the studio recordings, the – sometimes productive, at other times disturbing – encounters with musical collaborators, the meetings and the interviews, the paparazzi, the drug dealers and the prostitutes, this musician has completely lost the plot.
There is not a shred of metamorphosis, realisation or forgiveness in Tim Sutton’s portrait of a broken man. It charts a steady descent. The director eschews psychological interpretation and rock star stereotypes to give us addiction, fame and the mechanisms of the music industry. This radical, stirring film is as painfully authentic as the tattoos that cover the body of rapper and lead Colson Baker, also known as Machine Gun Kelly.
by Tim Sutton
with Colson Baker, Maddie Hasson, Scoot McNairy, Megan Fox, Demetrius ‘Lil Meech‘ Flenory Jr., Naomi Wild, Ruby Rose, Lil Tjay
USA 2022 English 98’ Colour

With

  • Colson Baker (Cole)
  • Maddie Hasson (Ilana)
  • Scoot McNairy (Ray)
  • Megan Fox (Mae)
  • Demetrius ‘Lil Meech‘ Flenory Jr. (Syl)
  • Naomi Wild (Lena )
  • Ruby Rose (Bub)
  • Lil Tjay (Self)

Crew

Written and Directed by Tim Sutton
Cinematography John Brawley
Editing Holle Singer
Music Machine Gun Kelly
Production Design Francesca Palombo
Costumes Cris Araujo
Make-Up Rachel Hoke
Casting Eyde Belasco
Assistant Director James Grayford
Production Manager Connie Hoy
Producer Jib Polhemus, Rob Paris, Mike Witherill
Executive Producers Tim Sutton, Colson Baker, Gul Karakiz

World sales

Anonymous Content & Paradigm

Produced by

Rivulet Films

Source Management + Production

Tim Sutton

Born in Syracuse, New York in 1970, the director and screenwriter made his directing debut in 2012 with Pavilion. His second film Memphis and his third Dark Night, loosely based on the 2012 Aurora Cineplex massacre, were both selected for Venice and Sundance. Donnybrook, produced by David Lancaster (Drive, Whiplash), celebrated its premiere in Toronto while Funny Face screened in the 2020 Encounters section of the Berlinale. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two sons.

Filmography

2012 Pavilion 2013 Memphis 2016 Dark Night 2018 Donnybrook 2019 Funny Face 2021 The Last Son 2022 Taurus

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2022