Pillow / Menu

Author(s): Kwame Chode
Location: Miami, FL

"Pillow/Menu"

A Focus Feature Release
Written by:Michel Gondry
Directed by:Arnaud Desplechin
Music by:DJ Khaled, Scott Storch
Cinematography by:Eric Gautier
Editing by:Valdis Oskarsdottir
Art Direction by:David Stein
Produced by:Michel Gondry

Main Cast

Anthony Mackie as Frandzy-Pierre Mondelus
Adriana Barraza as Gertrudis Salazar
Steven Bauer as Raymundo Barrios-Ginart
Rick Ross as Michael Upshaw
Jesse Garcia as Andrew
Michael Sheen as Adrian

Tagline: "I'm sorry, what you said?"

Synopsis: The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel Resort and Casino,just north of Miami-Dade County,Florida, hosts a diverse group of employees, and many of them. Among the employees is 30-something Haitian immigrant, Frandzy-Pierre Mondelus, who has worked his way up to the ranks of assistant chef at the Hotel Restaurant.His boss,Restaurant Manager Raymundo Barrios-Ginart, has appointed him to represent their hotel restaurant at a large Hard Rock Conference in Orlando,Florida. Hotel Assistant Manager Michael Upshaw has selected hardworking Colombian maid Gertrudis to represent their division at the conference.Though Frandzy-Pierre and Gertrudis do not know each other well,they have been asked to carpool.Andrew,Gertrudis' nonchalant, 23 year old son, provides the transportation.Along the way, the 2 employees engage in small talk, though in broken English. At a road stop,they unexpectedly meet Adrian, a British burlesque act manager,and it all goes downhill from there.

What the Press would say:

This small,low-budget gem is a big 360 change for nearly everyone involved.French Director Arnaud Desplechin uses his great dry sense of humor and techniques to great use in his English-language debut. Mackie finally proves that he is the next big thing,and Barraza proves that her Oscar nomination was no fluke.Miami rapper Rick Ross is promising in his big debut, and Steven Bauer is warmly welcomed after being off-screen for a while.Overall, a wonderfully quirky potential classic, and a big surprise.

Potential Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Director (Desplechin)
Best Original Screenplay (Gondry)
Best Original Score (DJ Khaled,Scott Storch)
Best Actor (Anthony Mackie)
Best Actress (Adriana Barraza)
Best Supporting Actor (Rick Ross, Steven Bauer)
Best Editing