National Anthem is a story narrated aesthetically as a western with a queer touch that reaffirms sexual identities  without social exclusion .

Dylan (Charlie Plummer) is a handsome young man who works hard fo his money under the sun, he lives with his single mother and her son, a very young brother he loves and takes care of since mother is often absent. He saves his work earnings in a tin box to look forward to reaching his dream to eventually  leave, in search of freer horizons.

Amongst the  cowboys and in a men’s world, brings the possibility one day for Dylan to develop his construction skills at House of Splendor, an idillic retreat for members of the LGTBQ+ community where they nurture each other, learn, rehearse their performances and live whimsically. 

At House of Splendor there is Sky (Eve Lindley) , and her attractive and stimulating presence fills the screen and seduces Dylan, interrupting his routinely boring life. He has sexual fantasies with her and allows her to put him on color shadows on his eyelids, while listening to her explaining  there are eye persons, lip persons and Dolly Parton.

The rodeo is not an ordinary one, and bullriding, drag shows and performance by Sky are included, and it is curious to see how the colors of the rainbow timidly permeate its territory. Dylan fits well into all that while developing a bond with Sky that may be interrupted any minute because of the ambiguity of the bonds among these protagonists in that free arena.

As the plot evolves we watch Dylan interact with his family, since he has issues with his mother, and with the situations he is immersed in. We learn about his self knowledge process  and the importance of live what life brings in the moment, without further expectations, the elusive illusion of love included.

And there is the National Anthem, sung by members of the community. God Bless America.

Film directed by Luke Gilford and filmed in New Mexico, and it outlines the characters with brush strokes and little else.

 

Review by José Mayorga , Guatemala, Central America lawyer and notary public, visual artist, and editor of El Azar Cultural, lives and works in Guatemala City. Cinema lover, curious about the possibilities life brings and eager to live the experience.