Danielle Solzman
Olympic Dreams is now playing in theaters and available to purchase on VOD this weekend after almost a year following its SXSW premiere.
During SXSW, I sat down with to writer/director Jeremy Teicher and writer-actress Alexi Pappas to discuss the film, which also stars actor-writer Nick Kroll and a pair of Olympics, Gus Kenworthy and Morgan Schild.
Cross-country skier Penelope (Alexi Pappas) has her first event shortly after the Opening Ceremony takes place during the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. Sometime shortly thereafter, Penelope becomes friends with volunteer dentist Ezra (Nick Kroll). The two of them start hanging out so much during the Winter games that you can’t help but wonder when they’ll just kiss each other already. Eventually, Penelope runs into Gus Kenworthy only to eventually find out that he’s gay.
I give a lot of credit to this entire crew for taking this project on while the Olympics are going on. It’s one thing to shoot a documentary or news feature during the games. A narrative feature is a whole different story. To put it simply, this is unheard of! Moreover, try doing so in very cold temperatures! Regardless, Jeremy Teicher–who was mentored by Paul Thomas Anderson–serves as a one-person crew here. Even for an independent film, this is insane. The end result should make it all the worthwhile.
Thanks to the Olympic Foundation For Culture & Heritage’s Olympic Art Project, we get a first-hand Olympic experience. Who knows if or when this kind of film will ever happen again! Just like the games, which are held every four years, this film is about chasing one’s dreams.
DIRECTOR: Jeremy Teicher
SCREENWRITERS: Alexi Pappas, Jeremy Teicher, and Nick Kroll
CAST: Nick Kroll, Alexi Pappas with Gus Kenworthy, and Morgan Schild
