Todd Stephens wrote, directed, and produced Swan Song, a 2021 American drama film. Udo Kier, Jennifer Coolidge, Linda Evans, Michael Urie, Ira Hawkins, and Stephanie McVay are among the cast members.
On March 17, 2021, it made its global debut at South by Southwest. Magnolia Pictures released it in a limited release on August 6, 2021, prior to video on demand on August 13, 2021.
Swan Song (2021) Synopsis
After being charged with styling his former client’s hair for her burial, a former hairdresser takes a long stroll across town.
Movie Info
| Directed by | Todd Stephens |
| Written by | Todd Stephens |
| Produced by | · Todd Stephens
· Eric Eisenbrey · Tim Kaltenecker · Rhet Topham · Stephen Israel |
| Cinematography | Jackson Warner Lewis |
| Edited by | · Spencer Schilly
· Santiago Figueira W. |
| Music by | Chris Stephens |
| Production companies |
· Luna Pictures
· House of Gemini · XYZ Films |
| Distributed by | Magnolia Pictures |
| Release date | · March 17, 2021 (SXSW)
· August 6, 2021 (United States) |
| Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $117,629 |
Cast
- Udo Kier as Pat Pitsenbarger
- Jennifer Coolidge as Dee Dee Dale
- Linda Evans as Rita Parker Sloan
- Michael Urie as Dustin
- Ira Hawkins as Eunice
- Stephanie McVay as Sue
- Tom Bloom as Walter Shanrock
- Justin Lonesome as Miss Velma
- Thom Hilton as Gabriel
- Shanessa Sweeney as Ro Ro
- Bryant Carroll as Lyle
- Shelby Garrett as Evie
- Catherine Albers as Janie
- Dave Sorboro as Josiah
- Roshon Thomas as Shaundell
- Annie Kitral as Miss Gertie
- Eric Eisenbrey as David
- Jonah Blechman as Tristan
- Tim Murray as Nurse
- Cheryl Talley-Sharp as Phyllis
- Ray Perrin as Scottie
Release
On March 17, 2021, the film made its international debut at South by Southwest. Magnolia Pictures had already purchased the film’s international distribution rights. It had a limited release on August 6, 2021, before being released on video on demand on August 13, 2021.
Reaction
Film critics praised Swan Song and gave it high marks. The review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes polled 62 critics and determined that 57 of them were positive and 5 were negative, giving the film a 92 percent rating. It earned an average rating of 7.5 out of 10 among the reviewers. “Udo Kier’s complex portrayal offers Swan Song a depth and poignancy that offsets its potentially ludicrous narrative,” says the website’s opinion. The film has a Metacritic score of 66 out of 100, based on 21 reviews, indicating “generally good reviews.”
Swan Song Release Dates
| USA | 18 March 2021 | (South by Southwest Film Festival) |
| USA | 8 April 2021 | (Cleveland International Film Festival) |
| USA | 16 June 2021 | (Provincetown International Film Festival) |
| USA | 17 June 2021 | (Frameline Film Festival) |
| USA | 23 June 2021 | (Nantucket Film Festival) |
| Canada | 6 August 2021 | |
| USA | 6 August 2021 | (limited) |
| USA | 13 August 2021 | (internet) |
| Norway | 22 August 2021 | (Norwegian International Film Festival) |
| Switzerland | 27 September 2021 | (Zurich Film Festival) |
| Sweden | 15 October 2021 | |
| Netherlands | 21 April 2022 |
Also Known As (AKA)
| (original title) | Swan Song |
| Australia | Swan Song |
| Canada (English title) | Swan Song |
| Germany | Swan Song |
| Indonesia | Swan Song |
| Netherlands | Swan Song |
| Norway | Swan Song |
| Philippines | Swan Song |
| Singapore | Swan Song |
| UK | Swan Song |
| USA | Swan Song |