A young gay boy named “Potato” moves to America with his mother to escape their oppressive lives in Russia in the film “Potato Dreams of America,” which premiered at South by Southwest 2021 on Tuesday. Based on director Wes Hurley’s own experience as a gay immigrant from Russia, the movie is broken up into two periods: Potato’s life in Russia and Potato’s life in America. 

The first half of the movie follows Potato, played by Hersh Powers, living in Russia during the fall of the USSR. Potato and his mom, played by Sera Barbieri during this period, have a far from ideal life. Their water and electricity is constantly getting shut off, Potato is bullied at school and their only happiness in life is an 18-inch color TV that projects a fuzzy image of American films. 

While Potato’s life is bleak, Hurley uses colorful sets and a symmetrical shooting style to create a stylish and bright portrayal of life during the fall of the Iron Curtain. The hyperstylization is definitely intended by Hurley, but often it comes across as clashing with the dark tone of Potato’s life.

One of the highlights of this film has to be Potato’s hallucination of Jesus, played by “Mean Girls” actor Jonathan Bennett. His brief feminine and buffoonish portrayal of the biblical character adds to the campiness of the film, and it’s hard not to smile at Bennett’s “femboy” Jesus character who helps Potato come to terms with his sexuality. 

The second period of this film takes place in America when Lena marries a man in order to move away from Russia. The colorful production style takes a step back as Hurley focuses on Potato realizing his sexuality. 

This film stands out from other gay coming-of-age stories by exploring Potato’s isolation due to his Russian background. Potato is often defined by his immigrant status, with his teachers and classmates labeling him as the “Russian kid.” The movie excels when it focuses on Potato’s journey to accept his heritage and sexuality. While there are still times when Hurley’s style gets in the way, the film’s heartwarming message of acceptance in the foreign world of America shines through.

“Potato Dreams of America’s” cinematography and production design can often feel messy, but the film’s campy nature and lovely message make up for it to create a charming experience for audiences. And since there are only a handful of heartwarming gay films, Hurley’s film is definitely a standout at this year’s SXSW.

3 Gay Potatoes out of 5