A drama set in the American South, where a precocious, troubled girl finds a safe haven in the music and movement of Elvis Presley.
Acting
Fanning at 12 — fearless, raw, career-defining performance.
Direction
Kampmeier's unflinching gaze refuses to look away.
Director
Deborah Kampmeier
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Sundance 2007 premiere sparked walkouts and a media firestorm over Fanning's age, overshadowing the film's actual critique of how Black culture was mined by white artists.
Fanning's mother and agent were on set daily; she later said she understood the story's importance but found adult reactions more disturbing than the role itself.
US
