Raising Buchanan

2020 • 96 minutes

About this movie

In suburban Phoenix, 40-year-old donut shop employee Ruth Kiesling (Amanda Melby) is not exactly living the dream. She's got anger issues, no mother, a dead brother, and a father (M. Emmet Walsh) in hospice. Her few friends include Meg (Cathy Shim), her game-for-anything confidante since jr high; Holly (Jennifer Pfalzgraff), a janitor/amateur ventriloquist; and her probation officer, Crosby (Terence Bernie Hines). Ruth's only creative outlet is playing cello in a series of popular videos featuring Errol (Steve Briscoe), an egotistical ventriloquist. His followers proudly-and literally-wear their allegiance to their "art" with dummies are strapped across their torsos like badass bandoleros. Ever the opportunist and desperate for money, Ruth finds herself in a position to "steal" the body of President James Buchanan (René Auberjonois). She does so, hoping to ransom him for a nice windfall – but she's surprised to discover that no one seems particularly interested in getting him back.

Ratings and reviews

This movie wittily uses facts about the least-known president in a way that had me laughing the whole time! For a film with such a zany concept, I was pleasantly surprised with how subtle many of the jokes were and the laid-back pace of the story. The film never seemed slow or erratic. Although a part of me does feel that a flick with a premise as absurd as this one demands a more absurd storyline, I was satisfied with the ending and enjoyed it from start to finish. This was a damn good flick!

Great movie! I got the priveledge of seeing it in a theater and I was amazed! This is a fun, witty look at past and current politics. A must view for the discerning indy film watcher! Filmed in ARIZONA by ARIZONANS!