The Guatemalan Handshake
Encyclopedia
The Guatemalan Handshake is a 2006 comedy-drama film, written and directed by Todd Rohal
. It is Rohal's feature film
debut. The film premiered at the 2006 Slamdance Film Festival
and won the Special Jury Prize.
driver vanishes, setting in motion a series of events affecting his pregnant girlfriend, his helplessly car-less father, a pack of wild boy scouts, a lactose intolerant roller rink employee, an elderly woman in search of her lost dog, and his best friend –
a ten-year-old girl named Turkeylegs.
Pieces of the mystery begin to come together as Turkeylegs sets out to find her missing friend. Cars drive circles in the dirt, a woman attends her own funeral, the sun rises sideways and an orange vehicle trades hands again and again. Everything eventually culminates in a massive demolition derby that throws all of the characters into different directions.
Todd Rohal
Todd Rohal is an American independent filmmaker. His feature film is 2006's The Guatemalan Handshake. He is also responsible for the short films Single Spaced , Slug 660 , Knuckleface Jones and Hillbilly Robot ....
. It is Rohal's feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
debut. The film premiered at the 2006 Slamdance Film Festival
Slamdance Film Festival
As a year-round organization, Slamdance serves as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging talent in the film industry; it is also the only major film festival fully programmed by filmmakers. Slamdance counts among its alumni many notable writers and directors who first gained notice at the...
and won the Special Jury Prize.
Story
In the confusion following a massive power outage, an awkward demolition derbyDemolition derby
Demolition derby is a motorsport usually presented at county fairs and festivals. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another...
driver vanishes, setting in motion a series of events affecting his pregnant girlfriend, his helplessly car-less father, a pack of wild boy scouts, a lactose intolerant roller rink employee, an elderly woman in search of her lost dog, and his best friend –
a ten-year-old girl named Turkeylegs.
Pieces of the mystery begin to come together as Turkeylegs sets out to find her missing friend. Cars drive circles in the dirt, a woman attends her own funeral, the sun rises sideways and an orange vehicle trades hands again and again. Everything eventually culminates in a massive demolition derby that throws all of the characters into different directions.
Main cast
- Katy Haywood — Turkeylegs
- Ken Byrnes — Mr. Turnupseed
- Will OldhamWill OldhamWill Oldham , better known by the stage name Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded under variations of the Palace name, including the Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, and Palace Music...
— Donald Turnupseed - Sheila Scullin — Sadie
- Rich Schreiber — Stool
- Kathleen Kennedy — Ethel Firecracker
- Cory McAbeeCory McAbeeCory McAbee is an American writer and director, and lead singer of the band Billy Nayer Show.- Director :*Billy Nayer *The Man on the Moon...
— Spank Williams
External links
- The Guatemalan Handshake official website
- Benten Films official DVD webpage