Sunstrokes

Los Angeles County, 2023 - 2025, feature film, 75’ - currently in postproduction



Dreaming, trying to cry, breaking up, doubting yourself, having a crush, driving the car, doing to much.


In a loose chain of situations in different parks, flats and cars the film observes the behaviour of Kevin, Lili, Rachel, Jiselle, Theo, Charly, Tobi, Jake and Ronnie.
Depressive states and a longing for authenticity play just as much a role as the fear of revealing oneself and dreaming of a different self.
While discussing gender, skin colour or social class, they often change their minds and try to depict the others. In their adolescence, they remain playful and blend serious topics such as self-harming behaviour or future anxiety with flirting or joking.

Sunstrokes combines improvisation tecniques, documentary observations and fictinal characters to a unique vagueness of autheniticity.

Close collaboration between the director and the actors between 2023 - 2024 with a total of 32 shooting days in Los Angeles County.


Rachel
Rahdeera

Lilly
Ava Hase

Kevin
Jonathan Maguire

Theo
Marco Martinez

Jiselle
Aria Patterson

Sanam
Anushka Shah

Sylvie
Olivia Idera

Tristan
Martin Duenes

Charly
Logan Fenner

Blair
Kennedy Franz

Sam
Simone Liu


Tobi
Oscar Madrid


Jake
Gabe Noah


Ronnie
Elvina Roberts

additional Camera
Danni Ma

Unit Production Manager
Xiangwu Xie
music by
Lene Talgø & Johannes Warnke

posptroduction
PLANEMO

color grading
Abdul Twebti

sound mixing
Jochen Jezussek

supported by
Student Union, CalArts

produced by
Berlin University of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts

camera, sound, directed by
Julian Rabus