A film about a young baseball player who finds refuge from his abusive stepfather by studying for his barmitzvah, will include stars from Sex and the City and The Wire.
British-based filmmaker Jess Quinones, who grew up in Miami before moving to London, wrote the film about his own teenage experiences.
Calloused Hands will star David Eigenberg, best known for playing Steve Brady, husband of Sex and the City’s Miranda. He will be playing a rabbi. It will also feature The Wire’s Andre Royo and Bafta-nominated actress Natalie Press as the boy's parents.
The 30-year-old filmmaker, who has lived in London for 11 years, describes himself as “Afro-Cuban-Irish-Jewish heritage.”
He added: “I needed a lot of wounds to heal before I was ready to tell this story. But I also wanted to be ready. Not only emotionally, or psychologically, but also from a professional standpoint. I wanted to be equipped with the tools as a writer, as a director, to tell this story in the best possible way. And now is that time.”
The plot centres on Josh, a 12-year-old mixed race boy who shows promise as a baseball player. He is able to find a refuge from his abusive stepfather after meeting his estranged grandfather, who encourages him to have a barmitzvah.
The script has been short-listed for the Sundance Screenwriters Lab and selected to the BBC Writers Room. Shooting will begin this summer.
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