After a three-year since filming ended, Natalia Dyer‘s queer indie film Chestnut is finally getting a theater release date! Directed by Jac Cron, it tells the story of a young woman’s summer in that uncertain time between finishing college and starting out on a new and bright. Things get complicated when in the midst of transitioning into a new state of her life, our lead Annie meets a woman named Tyler and her coworker Danny. Tyler is played by Rachel Keller and Danny is played by Danny Ramirez. And for the life of her, Annie can’t figure out if these two are friends or more as she falls into a relationship with Tyler. Oh and gets close to Danny too.
When asked by the Philadelphia Gay News as to what inspired Cron to tell this story, she said, “It was inspired by personal feelings. It is not specifically one exact experience, but an amalgamation of different experiences where I felt heartbreak, loss, change, and moving around.” She went on to explain that momentous moments in your life, like what Annie’s doing by graduating college, they leave you a little lost. And by the end of it, you end up asking yourself, “Who am I? What do I want? And who do I want to surround myself with?” That’s what Annie’s going through in Chestnut and something we’ll get to finally experience when it has its limited theater run on June 21, 2024 and digital platforms on July 2nd.
Besides staring in Stranger Things, Dyer has been keeping busy with TV and movie appearances. Last year she starred in the horror movie All Fun and Games and the TV show Based on a True Story. Keller’s most recent works include the TV show Tokyo Vice and the movie A Man Named Otto. As for Ramirez, his career has been blowing up. He’s set to take on the role of Falcon in Captain America: Brave New World. And he’s joining the HBO series The Last of Us.
Synopsis: After graduating college, Annie is the only one of her friends who stayed behind in her small college city of Philadelphia for the summer. She has a good job lined up in LA come fall and is seemingly ready to take the leap, but things still feel unfinished. During this aimless in-between period, Annie finds herself entangled with Tyler, a woman she meets at a bar one night, and Danny, Tyler’s co-worker… or best friend… or more? Annie is never quite sure. Chestnut follows Annie through a summer of self-discovery as all three battle for unrequited connection, ultimately helping her find her voice in desire, independence, and the comfort in change.
Watch the trailer below:
Chestnut hits select theaters on June 21, 2024 and digital platforms on July 2nd.