J.K. Simmons, The Bear actor Abby Elliott and John Reynolds are toplining Purgatory, Lindsay Lanzillotta’s coming-of-age comedy/drama and feature directorial debut.
The indie, which has just wrapped production in St. John’s, Newfoundland, also stars newcomers Ruby McGurrin, Lauren MacRae, Mary Walsh, Jack Innanen, Julianne Arrieta, Marcus Ngo and Gemma Rosaria Rae.
A synopsis from the producers reads: “Set in the early 1980s, the film follows thirteen-year-old Beatrice Gravel (McGurrin), whose comfortable world—family, school, and church—fractures when her mother (Elliott) moves out to “self actualize,” leaving Beatrice and her sister (MacRae) with their devastated father (Reynolds). As Beatrice doubles down on a plan to ‘fix’ her family, she barrels through bullies, friendship blowups, a make-out party, and a kleptomaniac babysitter—forcing her to decide who she wants to be when she can’t get what she wants.”
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Simmons plays Beatrice’s confidante Father Malone, Innanen portrays her school’s vice principal and her mother’s new love interest, while Walsh portrays a teacher and Arrieta is the PTA president.
Lanzillotta directed Purgatory from a screenplay by Christine Speer, and in a statement said of the film: “Beatrice Gravel is just so much fun. At my core, I’m still that teenage girl watching my parents’ divorce, and when I read Christine’s heartfelt and funny take on Beatrice’s experience, it felt brutally honest, real, and oddly comforting. I’ve always loved films that can entertain a wide audience while taking on hard subjects with heart and humor, and that’s what pulled me back to the ’80s to tell this story as a first-time director.”
Purgatory is produced by Lanzillotta, Simone Kirlew, Aldo Lanzillotta, Deniz Gumustas, Mark O’Neill and Gus Murray. The executive producer credits are shared by Ryan Horton, Elliott, Tai Truesdall and William Patterson.
McGurrin is represented by The Characters Talent Agency, while Elliott is represented by Paradigm Talent Agency and OPE Partners. Reynolds is represented by CAA and Entertainment 360, and Simmons is represented by the Gersh Agency.
