SUGAR

Year: 2008
USA: Sony Pictures Classics
UK: Axiom Films
Cast: Algenis Perez Soto, Rayniel Rufino, Andre Holland, Michael Gaston, Jaime Tirelli, Jose Rijo, Ann Whitney, Richard Bull, Ellary Porterfield, Alina Vargas, Kelvin Leonardo Garcia, Joendy Pena Brown
Directors: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck
Country: USA
Language: Spanish (English subtitles)
USA & UK: 114 mins
USA Rated: R for language, some sexuality and brief drug use
UK Certificate: 15 contains strong language, infrequent strong sex and drug use
USA Release Date: 3 April 2009 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 5 June 2009 (Limited Release)

UK Distributor

Synopsis

SUGAR follows the story of Miguel Santos, a.k.a. Sugar, (Algenis Perez Soto), a Dominican pitcher from San Pedro De Macoris, struggling to make it to the big leagues and pull himself and his family out of poverty. Playing professionally at a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic, Miguel finally gets his break at age 19 when he advances to the United States' minor league system; but when his play on the mound falters, he begins to question the single-mindedness of his life's ambition.

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, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck'. SUGAR is a powerful and ambitious follow-up to their startlingly assured feature debut (the Oscar-nominated HALF NELSON). Just as their first film was not your average high school drama, nor is SUGAR even close to being just another American sports movie.