Nessa Duogherty and Scoot McNairy appear in Fairyland by Andrew William Durham, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Tobin Yelland
Dir: Andrew Durham, France/US, 2023, 116 mins
Cast: Emilia Jones, Scoot McNairy, Nessa Dougherty
Review by Carlie Newman
Starting in the 1970s, we meet the young Alyssa (Nessa Dougherty) who, following the sudden death of her mother, moves with her father, Steve (Scoot McNairy) to San Francisco. They move into a bohemian apartment and Steve begins to date gay men. He gives Alyssa lots of freedom to do what she wants while he pursues his bohemian lifestyle. Often she finds it difficult and would prefer to have her father support her more. Alyssa is often mocked by other young people because her father dates men.
She leaves school to spend time studying in France. Now played by Emilia Jones, Alyssa is called back to San Francisco by her father when he becomes ill with AIDS. It’s now the 80s and the illness is beginning to hit the gay community hard.
Durham captures the relationship between father and daughter, and also gives us a view of the context of the AIDS plague, which spread quickly throughout the US and was particularly disastrous in San Francisco.
There are poignant scenes between Alyssa and her dad, not only when she nurses him through his illness, but also when she is a child and feels neglected as Steve pursues romance with various boyfriends.
It’s a very well-made film, and there are terrific performances, particularly by young Nessa Doherty.
About the Author
