Hull Independent Cinema: Blue Moon

Dir Richard Linklater | USA, Ireland | 2025 | 100 mins | Rated 15 | English, Hebrew
Set on the night of the 1943 premiere of Oklahoma!, the film follows lyricist Lorenz Hart, once famed as part of the songwriting duo Rodgers-Hart. At a party in Manhattan’s legendary Sardi’s restaurant, Hart watches with bitter jealousy as his former partner celebrates success with a new collaborator. Haunted by alcoholism, unresolved love, and professional rejection, Hart drifts through the night, trying to flirt with a younger woman, reminiscing about past glories, and wrestling with his fading relevance and the painful truth that the world — and Broadway — has moved on without him.
Starring Ethan Hawke, Margaret Qualley, Andrew Scott

AWARDS AND FESTIVALS
Berlin Int’l FF: Winner, Best Supporting Performance; Nominee, Best Film
Gotham Awards: Nominee, Best Lead Performance, Best Supporting Performance
Lisbon FF: Nominee, Best Film
Gijón Int’l FF: Nominee, Best Film

REVIEWS
“A deceptively modest project, but it’s beautifully executed and fascinatingly nuanced.” David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
“Like a backstage pass for Broadway buffs, it’s one hell of a show for those in the know, and a sparkling introduction for the uninitiated.” Peter Debruge, Variety
“Hawke’s ability to convey flashes of self-awareness elevates his performance from a brilliant impression to a fully realized tragic portrait.” ★★★★ Keith Phipps, The Reveal
“With Hawke’s exceptional performance at its center, the film earns its place as a poignant, quietly powerful character study. ” ★★★★ Linda Marric, HeyUGuys”