HOULTON, Maine — Anyone who grew up working the potato harvest in northern Maine will probably be able to relate to the new independent movie “Beneath the Harvest Sky.”
The film, which opens Friday at the Temple Theatre in Houlton and will be shown in other theatres around the state before getting released nationally May 2, tells the tale of two teenage boys who dream of leaving their hometown for Boston.
The film’s writers/directors/producers, Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, will be in Houlton Monday, April 28 to screen the film and will hold a question-and-answer session afterward. Gaudet and Pullapilly are known in Maine for their award-winning documentary “The Way We Get By,” which told the story of a group of senior citizens in Bangor who greet U.S. troops at the Bangor International Airport.
Set and filmed predominantly in Van Buren, “Beneath the Harvest Sky” tells the tale of Dominic, a hard-working and honest 17-year-old who works on a harvester with a goal of earning enough money to buy a red sports car and move to Boston so he can “watch the Red Sox” upon graduation.
His best friend Casper is more reckless and a bit of a trouble-maker. His method of making extra money is to help his father smuggle drugs across the Canadian border and he often questions what life has in store for him.
The film stars Emory Cohen (who appeared in the NBC television show “Smash”), Callan McAuliffe (“The Great Gatsby” and “I am Number Four”) and Aidan Gillen (“Game of Thrones”).
“Beneath the Harvest Sky” is a dark, gritty portrayal of life in a small town during potato harvest season and the struggles of making the leap from childhood to adulthood. The scenery will be familiar to any who has lived in northern Maine. The film is not rated, but contains strong language throughout.
For more information on the movie, visit www.beneaththeharvestsky.com.
