When the National Anthem is played, everyone is invited to rise up together.
National Anthem follows Dylan (Charlie Plummer), a quiet 21-year-old who does whatever he can to help his family survive. With his erratic mother barely in the picture, he watches over his little brother and works hard to pay the bills. But things change when he takes a job working at a nearby ranch. Here, he discovers a community of rodeo performers that freely explore their sexuality. As Dylan begins to challenge his own identity, he finds himself attracted to Sky (Eve Lindley), a free spirit who shows him a world beyond his own.
Written and directed by Luke Gilford, National Anthem is a beautiful piece dedicated to the celebration of sexual identity for those who feel that they live a culture that would keep them confined. Intimate and inquisitive, this is a film that simply feels personal. There’s an honesty to Dylan’s journey that feels open to everyone, even if the film’s primary focus is on the experiences of the trans community.
Performances across the board are solid, especially from young Charlie Plummer. However, the true spark to the film remains Lindley. As Eve, Lindley absolutely lights up the screen with eyes of fire. Just as Dylan is drawn to her unpredictable nature, we too cannot help see the fire burning in her eyes. In this world, she feels free and empowered. And, as a result, she sparkles in her performance.
But that’s also the real heartbeat of this Anthem.
Balancing grace and strength, Anthem is a celebration of autonomy. In a nation built upon Conservative values, the American people of this rodeo community have carved out for themselves a much-needed space of self-expression. Here, all are welcome to explore their identities. From the trans community to drag performances, everyone is able to try on different aspects of their personalities in an effort to discover who they believe themselves to be. (Interestingly, the very fact that it takes place in a rodeo is in and of itself an opportunity to challenge the hyper-masculine iconography that America was built upon.)
This sort of atmosphere is immediately attractive to Dylan. Trapped under the pressures placed upon him by his mother, his world is small. Entrusted with caring for his little brother and burdened with the family’s finances, he has few opportunities to dream of his future. But Eve recognizes the spirit within him. To her, he’s lonely and isolated—and she believes that this could be the place where he finds himself. (“I just think you haven’t met your people yet,” she suggests.) Suddenly, he feels as though he has space to grow and he begins to see the world differently.
That’s the true Anthem being sung within this piece. For these people, the opportunity to expand comes when they feel safe. We hear stories of people who lost friends and family because of who they are. (“That’s just the cost of being ourselves,” we’re told.) We see the pure joy they experience as they perform in drag for their adoring fans. In this space, they know that they will not be judged for their journey. And it gives them air to breathe.
As such, National Anthem feels like a rallying cry. In many ways, this is the sort of film that pleads with the audience for acceptance of others, regardless of who they are. And that seems like an Anthem worth listening to.
National Anthem is available in theatres on Friday, July 19th, 2024.
