Wendy Feinberg on Dalton's Dream (2023) DOC NYC 2023

And with this review we at Unseen welcome Wendy Feinberg to the Unseen Films family. She is one of the programmers of the Port Jefferson Documentary series and a long time real world friend having collided many years ago at the Tribeca Film Festival. I'll tell you more about Wendy late  but for now here is her look at DALTON's DREAM.

Have you ever wondered what happens to winners of big reality music shows? Then you may want to watch Kim Longinotto and Franky Murray Brown’s moving and emotional documentary, DALTON’S DREAM. This revealing film had its world premier at the 2023 Sheffield DocFest in the UK and will had its North American premiere at the 2023 DOC NYC. 

The film tells the story of an extremely talented Jamaican singer/songwriter, Dalton Harris, who, in 2018, was the first non-British and Black winner of the British X Factor singing competition. During the competition Harris begins to get hateful, homophobic attacks from some Jamaicans because he hugged another man in the competition. After winning, Dalton is given an apartment in London, a new manager, and an opportunity to start working with a producer on creating a single. Then, with trepidation, he returns to Jamaica for Sumfest, the biggest Jamaican Music Festival. 

It brought tears to my eyes when he sang a song he had written about the hate he had experienced, and it was thrilling to see him showered with overwhelming applause and positive vibes from the huge Jamaican audience. Throughout the film Dalton also explores the childhood trauma he felt due to the abuse from his single parent mom and his process of reconnecting with and forgiving her. It is heartbreaking but also heartwarming to see them reconcile. 

If you like personal stories, music (especially pop, reggae and rap) and enjoy watching shows like the X Factor, The Voice and American Idol, this is the film for you!