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Poignant Father-Daughter Story Unfolds Amidst 1970s AIDS Crisis
14 Aug
Summary
- Scoot McNairy and Emilia Jones star in new film 'Fairyland'
- Based on acclaimed 2013 memoir about growing up with a gay father in 1970s-80s San Francisco
- Premiered at 2023 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews

'Fairyland', the new film directed by Andrew Durham, is a poignant exploration of a father-daughter relationship set against the backdrop of the AIDS crisis in 1970s and 80s San Francisco. Based on the acclaimed 2013 memoir by Alysia Abbott, the movie stars Scoot McNairy as Steve, a poet and activist who comes out as gay following the death of his wife, and Emilia Jones as Alysia, his daughter who is brought up with more independence than the norm.
The film, which premiered to rave reviews at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, follows Alysia's coming of age as she navigates her relationship with her father and his bohemian circle of friends. As Steve explores his own identity, Alysia struggles to find her place in the world, torn between her father's unconventional lifestyle and her desire for a more "normal" existence.
The story is a parallel coming-of-age tale, with both Alysia and her father grappling with the challenges of their respective adolescences. The film also features a stellar supporting cast, including Geena Davis as Alysia's grandmother, Cody Fern, Maria Bakalova, Bella Murphy, and Adam Lambert.