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Carousel Premieres at Sundance With Chris Pine and Jenny Slate, Seeks Distribution

Strong notices for the leads contrast with questions about the film’s commercial prospects.

Overview

  • Rachel Lambert’s Ohio‑set romantic drama debuted Jan. 22 at the Sundance Film Festival, with WME handling sales.
  • The story follows a divorced Cleveland doctor whose routine is upended when a high‑school love reenters his life, with Abby Ryder Fortson as his anxious teen daughter.
  • Lambert shot on 35mm in Northeast Ohio locations, a choice championed by star‑producer Chris Pine, with Dustin Lane as cinematographer and Dabney Morris composing the score.
  • Early reviews praise Pine and Jenny Slate’s performances and the film’s craft, while several critics question its pacing and elliptical narrative payoff.
  • Sundance screenings continue in person and online through Feb. 2 as the team pursues a distribution deal.