Back in June we sat down with actor Kyle Gallner to chat about the phenomenal Arrow Video acquisition, Dinner in America. In the film he plays one half of unlikely couple Simon and Patty, a couple of outliers of society who bond over their love of punk music whilst taking a stand against the world around them. To coincide with Dinner in America now being available on Blu-ray via the folks at Arrow Video, we’ve been able to sit down with the other half of cinema’s new power couple, Emily Skeggs, to discuss her time on the film.
If Gallner’s Simon is the aggression and forward momentum of Dinner in America, then Patty is its beating heart. When we first meet her, she is seen by all of those around her as a bit of a joke. She gets bullied and attacked by many people that she meets, and yet Patty remains a relatively positive persona. Patty is an innocent in a sea of sharks, but one that has been drawn to the powerful music of John Q. Upon meeting Simon she senses something in him, and over the course of the film, goes on this beautiful journey of self-empowerment and discovery. It’s a female role that we don’t see often and Skeggs has created a truly bespoke character that has already begun to resonate with many audience members.
Although it has now been years since filming concluded, after speaking with Emily, it is clear just how special the experience was for her. Patty appears to have been cut from the fabric of Emily’s own being; the connection between actor and role does not often get as personal as this and watching it play out on screen is beautiful. Here is what Emily had to say about her time with Patty and the film.
Dinner in America is available in the UK on Arrow Player, Digital HD and Blu-ray now.
