Sugar


1h 54m 2008

Brief Synopsis

Miguel Santos, a.k.a Azucar, a Dominican pitcher from San Pedro de Macoris, struggles to make it to the big leagues and pull himself and his family out of poverty. Playing professionally at the Kansas City Knights baseball academy, Miguel finally gets his break at age 19 when he advances to the Unit

Film Details

MPAA Rating
Genre
Drama
Sports
Teens
Release Date
2008
Production Company
Entertainment One Features; Gowanus Projections; HBO Films; Journeyman Pictures
Distribution Company
Sony Pictures Classics; Axiom Films; Métropole Films Distribution; Sony Pictures Classics; Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Location
Davenport, Iowa, USA; Dominican Republic; New York City, New York, USA; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Burlington, Iowa, USA

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 54m

Synopsis

Miguel Santos, a.k.a Azucar, a Dominican pitcher from San Pedro de Macoris, struggles to make it to the big leagues and pull himself and his family out of poverty. Playing professionally at the Kansas City Knights baseball academy, Miguel finally gets his break at age 19 when he advances to the United States' minor league system. Miguel travels from his tight knit community in the Dominican Republic to a small town in Iowa, corn country, where he and a couple other Latin American teammates are the only Spanish-speaking people in the vicinity. As Miguel struggles with the new language and culture, despite the welcoming efforts of his host family, he is faced with an isolation he never before experienced. When his play on the mound falters, he begins examining more closely the world around him and his place within it, and ultimately questions the single-mindedness of his life's ambition.

Film Details

MPAA Rating
Genre
Drama
Sports
Teens
Release Date
2008
Production Company
Entertainment One Features; Gowanus Projections; HBO Films; Journeyman Pictures
Distribution Company
Sony Pictures Classics; Axiom Films; Métropole Films Distribution; Sony Pictures Classics; Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Location
Davenport, Iowa, USA; Dominican Republic; New York City, New York, USA; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Burlington, Iowa, USA

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 54m

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Nominated for the 2008 Spirit Award for Best Screenplay by Film Independent (FIND).

Voted one of the 10 best films of 2009 by the American Film Institute (AFI).

Released in United States 2008

Released in United States 2009

Released in United States January 2008

Released in United States January 2009

Released in United States October 2008

Released in United States on Video September 1, 2009

Released in United States September 2008

Released in United States Spring April 3, 2009

Shown at Hamptons International Film Festival (Spotlight) October 15-19, 2008.

Shown at London Film Festival (Film on the Square) October 15-30, 2008.

Shown at Palm Springs International Film Festival (World Cinema Now) January 6-19, 2009.

Shown at Santa Barbara International Film Festival (World Cinema) January 22-February 1, 2009.

Shown at Toronto International Film Festival (Contemporary World Cinema) September 4-13, 2008.

Shown at Vancouver International Film Festival (Cinema of Our Time) September 25-October 10, 2008.

Released in United States 2008 (Shown at AFI/Los Angeles International Film Festival (Special Screenings) October 30-November 9, 2008.)

Released in United States 2008 (Shown at Vancouver International Film Festival (Cinema of Our Time) September 25-October 10, 2008.)

Released in United States 2009 (Shown at Santa Barbara International Film Festival (World Cinema) January 22-February 1, 2009.)

Released in United States January 2008 (Shown at Sundance Film Festival (Dramatic Competition) January 17-27, 2008.)

Released in United States January 2009 (Shown at Palm Springs International Film Festival (World Cinema Now) January 6-19, 2009.)

Released in United States Spring April 3, 2009 (NY, LA)

Released in United States September 2008 (Shown at Toronto International Film Festival (Contemporary World Cinema) September 4-13, 2008.)

Released in United States on Video September 1, 2009

Released in United States October 2008 (Shown at Hamptons International Film Festival (Spotlight) October 15-19, 2008.)

Released in United States October 2008 (Shown at London Film Festival (Film on the Square) October 15-30, 2008.)