Opener
From the Archives
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Drama, Short Films, 23-Jul-2025
A queer musician returns to her hometown to encounter the strange masculinity of the music scene. “Opener,” directed by Véra Haddad, is an observant comedy on the clichès of an indie rock venue and the awkwardness of social reunion. After spending time in Chicago, Sam is back where she started. Ahead of a performance, she arrives at the venue for soundcheck, where dudes with stubbled beards occupy the stage, the bar, and the board. When her guitar string breaks, Sam strolls over to the local music supply store where she’s bombarded by a cacophony of wannabe musicians shredding or drumming on the merchandise. At show time, Sam takes the stage to an audience of old friends, family, and ex-lovers. Capturing the knotted relationship between someone and a place from their past, the film is centered around an unassuming performance from Saara Untracht-Oakner. -JM. Director: Véra Haddad. Director of Photography: Adam Baron-Bloch. Cast: Saara Untracht-Oakner, Hannah Pruzinsky, Ryan Schnackenberg, Pat Scott, Jane Schoenbrun, Rick Spataro, Noah Harley, Andrew Emge, Wesley Harper, Dylan Nowik.
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