The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit

Director: Stuart Gordon
Screenwriters: Ray Bradbury

Institute History

  • 1998 Sundance Film Festival

Description

Gomez, the fast-talking schemer, Vamenos, the tramp, Martinez, the innocent, Villanazul, the intellectual, and Dominguez, the romantic, are an eclectic bunch of characters who live in East Los Angeles. Unfortunately they are also down to their last hundred dollars. They decide to risk all of it on a beautiful, immaculate, and magical white ice cream suit which they can share and which they hope will make all their dreams come true. The original plan is for each man to wear the suit one night a week, but they find they are much too excited to stick to that scenario. Instead they decide that each one will wear the suit for one hour that very night. What happens on that unique and wonderful night transforms their lives forever. Director Stuart Gordon first happened across Bradbury’s story (which had already been adapted into a play) in 1973 and directed a production of it at the Organic Theater Company in Chicago with a then-unknown Joe Montegna. It was so popular it toured Europe and the United States. He has been intent on making it into a film ever since. “It’s a simple story that transcends its origins since it’s a magical fable about friendship, sharing, and dreams fulfilled,” Gordon says. The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit also features one of the most delightful Latin acting ensembles ever, combining veterans and newcomers.

Screening Details

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