Where Is Kyra?
SYNOPSIS
Mild-mannered, sheltered Kyra, played with intensity by Michelle Pfeiffer, begins to spiral after the death of her mother. Long out of work, the deep-in-debt Kyra struggles to support herself. As she becomes increasingly desperate and isolated, longing for her mother, she launches a cryptic, last-ditch scheme to keep from being evicted. She also finds solace in another lonely soul, Doug (Kiefer Sutherland), from whom she initially tries to hide her plight, but Kyra slowly ropes him into her deception.
Writer/director Andrew Dosunmu returns to the Festival with his evocative and stylish third feature. Using impeccably composed frames and guided by sharp art direction, Dosunmu and two-time Sundance Film Festival Cinematography Award winner Bradford Young situate the fragile Kyra in a dark, antagonistic NYC. The intensely warm glow of an illuminated palette married to the cold negative space reflects the stark tension with this enigmatic character, who feels out of place in this world.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT – Andrew Dosunmu
I was intrigued by this script because of the innate truth in the subject matter: the idea that we as a society are immune to the struggles of the elderly, the disenfranchised, those without status, wealth, and position.
Too often, we don’t see the elderly as viable members of our society; we tend to ignore their plights as we move about our lives.
I also found a lot of truth in the idea that so many people are one paycheck away from homelessness, and from being destitute. Here we have a relatively young woman who has lost her marriage, her livelihood, and her last surviving parent. Her world has crumbled around her, and she just needs to survive, by any means she can manage.
There is so much relevance in this story, and it is such a common tale. I wanted to explore how life can take us down unexpected paths, even with the best intentions.
ABOUT THE CAST
MICHELLE PFEIFFER | “Kyra”
Golden Globe Award winner and three-time Academy Award nominee Michelle Pfeiffer has captivated film audiences with her stunning beauty and compelling performances for over three decades. Pfeiffer will be seen this spring of 2017 in HBO’s drama “The Wizard of Lies” alongside Robert De Niro. The duo will play Ruth and Bernie Madoff in the 2008-2009 downfall of Madoff’s infamous Ponzi scheme. The television drama is based on the non-fiction novel by the same name written by Diana B. Henriques.
Pfeiffer will soon begin production in London on 20th Century Fox’s upcoming adaptation of “Murder on the Orient Express” alongside Johnny Depp, Judi Dench and Daisy Ridley. Kenneth Branagh is both directing and starring in the upcoming remake playing Agatha Christie’s famed detective Hercule Poirot. Adapted from Christie’s beloved 1934 novel, the film follows Poirot as he tries to identify a murder aboard the famed train. Pfeiffer will play Mrs. Hubbard, a glamorous and opinionated passenger with a secret.
Also in 2017, Pfeiffer will be seen in the independent drama “Where is Kyra” starring alongside Kiefer Sutherland. The film is set to premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Directed by Andrew Dosunmu, the film explores a sensitive and fragile woman (Pfeiffer) who has difficulties navigating life in a rough-and-tumble, fast passed world. She is pushed to the brink when her mother dies and she must develop survival skills in this new phase of her life. Additionally, Pfeiffer will next be seen costarring opposite Ed Harris, Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem in Darren Aronofsky’s new drama “Mother.”
Pfeiffer received her first Academy Award nomination in 1989 in the ‘Best Actress in a Supporting Role’ category for her role as the long-suffering ‘Madame de Tourvel’ in “Dangerous Liaisons.” In 1990, she won a Golden Globe Award for ‘Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture’ and received her second Academy Award nomination in ‘Best Actress in a Leading Role’ for her performance as the sexy chanteuse ‘Suzie Diamond’ in “The Fabulous Baker Boys.” She earned her third Academy Award nomination in 1993 for ‘Best Actress in a Leading Role’ for her performance as Dallas housewife ‘Lurene Hallett’ in “Love Field.”
Pfeiffer has also been honored with a BAFTA Award, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award, National Board of Review Best Actress Award and New York Film Critics Circle Award, and has also received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination and five additional Golden Globe Award nominations for her performances in “The Age of Innocence,” “Love Field,” “Frankie and Johnny,” “The Russia House,” and “Married to the Mob.”
Pfeiffer’s film credits also include “Scarface,” “What Lies Beneath,” “I Am Sam,” “White Oleander,” “Hairspray,” “Chéri,” “Dark Shadows,” “People Like Us,” “The Witches of Eastwick,” “Dangerous Minds,” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
KIEFER SUTHERLAND | “Doug”
Kiefer Sutherland, while perhaps best known for portraying CIA agent “Jack Bauer” in the critically acclaimed Fox Drama “24,” traded in his gun to portray President Tom Kirkman in ABC’s ratings hit drama series “Designated Survivor.” Sutherland stars in the series playing a low-level cabinet member who is suddenly appointed President of the United States after a catastrophic attack during the State of the Union which kills everyone above him in the Presidential line of succession. The New York Times’ Mike Hale described it as “a perfect role for Mr. Sutherland” and USA Today’s Robert Bianco gave credit to the show’s “sturdy yet novel concept and a tried-and-true TV Star, Kiefer Sutherland.” Sonia Saraiya of Variety stated “As usual, Kiefer Sutherland has found himself a role that has its finger on the pulse of a zeitgeist.”
In spring of 2016, Sutherland completed a multi-city tour of the United States and eastern Canada in advance of the highly anticipated release of his debut album entitled “Down in a Hole.” The country western album originated from a collaboration with music producer, Jude Cole. Sutherland showed Cole a pair of tracks in early 2015, which he had intended for other artists, the songs eventually became the genesis of Sutherland’s album. The duo co-founded Ironwork Records in 2002 and the album will be released in fall 2016 on the Warner Bros. label.
Sutherland has received a multitude of awards thanks to his performance in the fox drama “24,” for which he won a Golden Globe Award, an Emmy Award and two SAG Awards, for Best Actor in a Drama Series for his performance. The show won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for “Best Drama”. The eighth and final season of “24” aired on FOX in January 2010. The show was also one of the most watched series worldwide. The success of the show led to projects such as “24: Redemption,” a made for television movie that bridged together the storyline of season six and season seven of the series and aired in 2008 on Fox. “24: Redemption” was nominated for five Emmy awards, including one for Sutherland for Best Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries. In 2015, Sutherland reprised his role again as Jack Bauer in Fox’s “24” franchise on the miniseries “24: Live Another Day.” Filmed on location in London, the high-octane twelve-episode saga reunited showrunner Howard Gordon with Sutherland and retained the real-time, fast-paced format with split screens and complex interweaving storylines.
Sutherland’s other notable film credits include “The Reluctant Fundamentalist,” “Melancholia,” “Monsters vs. Aliens,” “Phone Booth,” “Dark City,” and “A Few Good Men.”
