''Imperial Dreams'' is an American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

written and directed by Malik Vitthal. The film had its world premiere at

2014 Sundance Film Festival The 2014 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 16, 2014 until January 26, 2014 in Park City, Utah, United States, with screenings in Salt Lake City, Utah, Salt Lake City, Ogden, Utah, Ogden, and Sundance Resort in Utah. The festival opene ...

on January 20, 2014. It won the ''Audience Award'' at the festival. The film was released as a Netflix original film on February 3, 2017 but removed in February 2023.

Plot

A 21-year-old reformed gangster Bambi's devotion to his family, particularly his son Daytone, and his family's future are put to the test when he is released from prison and returns to his violent old stomping grounds in

Watts, Los Angeles Watts is a neighborhood in southern Los Angeles, California. It is located within the South Los Angeles region, bordering the cities of Lynwood, Huntington Park and South Gate to the east and southeast, respectively, and the unincorporated co ...

. Themes include mass incarceration, the importance of education, and the many obstacles present in the system that prevent those interested in rehabilitation from surviving when placed back in society.

Cast

John Boyega John Adedayo Bamidele Adegboyega (born 17 March 1992), known professionally as John Boyega, is a British actor and producer. He first gained recognition in Britain for his role as a teenage gang leader in the comedy horror film ''Attack the B ...

as Bambi * Rotimi Akinosho as Wayne *

Keke Palmer Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer ( ; born August 26, 1993) is an American actress, singer, and television personality. She has received numerous accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and nominations for a Daytime Emmy Award and a Screen Act ...

as Samaara *

Glenn Plummer Glenn E. Plummer (born August 18, 1961) is an American film and television actor. Plummer was featured as Bobby "Badass" Johnson in the 1992 film '' South Central'', James Smith in Paul Verhoeven's 1995 ''Showgirls'', Russ Stanhope in Dick Wolf ...

as Uncle Shrimp * Kellita Smith as Tanya * De'Aundre Bonds as Gideon *

Sufe Bradshaw Sufe Bradshaw ( ;

as Detective Gill * Jernard Burks as Cornell *

Nora Zehetner Nora Angela Zehetner (born February 5, 1981) is an American film and television actress. Early life Zehetner was born in El Paso, Texas, the daughter of Nancy Lynne (née Nelson) and John Carol Zehetner. She attended elementary school in Richar ...

as Janine *

Anika Noni Rose Anika Noni Rose (born September 6, 1972) is an American actress. She is best known for voicing Tiana (The Princess and the Frog), Tiana in ''The Princess and the Frog'' (2009). She was named a Disney Legends, Disney Legend in 2011. Rose starred ...

as Miss Price *

Maximiliano Hernández Maximiliano Hernández (born September 12, 1973) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Agent Jasper Sitwell in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and FBI Agent Chris Amador in the first season of ''The Americans''. Early life A nativ ...

as Detective Hernandez * Ethan and Justin Coach as Daytone * Todd Louiso as Peter Hall * Sufe Bradshaw as Detective Gill * Wilfred Lopez as Jail visitor * Zilah Mendoza as Work Source Woman

Production

The title ''Imperial Dreams'' references a point in the movie where the nature of emperors of the projects is expounded upon. It's also a reference to the housing projects where the movie takes place,

Imperial Courts Imperial Courts is a public housing project located in Watts, Los Angeles, California. It is located at 11541 Croesus Avenue on Imperial Highway, between Grape Street and Mona Boulevard, near Interstate 105 (California), the 105 Freeway. The fe ...

, in Watts.

Reception

''Imperial Dreams'' received positive reviews from critics. Review aggregator

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review aggregator, review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee ...

reports that 91% of 11 film critics have given the film a positive review, with an average rating of 7.3 out of 10. Geoffrey Berkshire of ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'', in his review called the film "Bighearted yet surprisingly nuanced." Justin Lowe by his review for ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

'' praised the film in calling it "An assured debut that stands to connect with a diverse audience." Chase Whale of '' Indiewire'' graded the film B+ by saying that "John Boyega first wowed audiences with his dynamite performance in ''

Attack the Block ''Attack the Block'' is a 2011 British Science fiction film, science fiction comedy horror film written and directed by Joe Cornish and starring John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker, and Nick Frost. Its storyline centres on a teenage street gang who ha ...

''. Once again playing the anti-hero, Imperial Dreams is another victory lap for this young actor, who's going to go on to do big, big things."

References

External links