Genre
Synopsis
FUN HOUSE, a hybrid documentary, uses the often absurd story of George Santos’ political ascent, as a portal to understand how personal and political deception, coupled with an insatiable thirst for power, money, and fame, are disfiguring global democracy beyond recognition. Darkly comedic in tone, the film uses fiction and documentary elements to juxtapose Dantas’ journey into the alternate universe of Santos’ serial deception, with her own quest to find the "truth" about her Brasilian family's complicated history, shaped by violence, unfettered power, and multigenerational myths.
In pursuit of the slippery Santos, Dantas leans into their shared lived experience as queer first-generation Latinx Americans who toggled between New York and Rio de Janeiro, often shape-shifting to assimilate, and never escaping the oppressive pervasiveness of the “American Dream” and its impact on the mental and material health of their families. Despite her abhorrence at his paradoxical embrace of MAGA-politics, Dantas finds herself seduced by his charm and humor (also her go-to coping mechanisms), even as his lies (and potential crimes) proliferate at a breakneck pace.
Bio
Luisa Dantas is a Brasilian-American multimedia storyteller whose work centers on race, place, and social justice. She has produced, written and directed narratives that span genres and modalities, including animated and live-action fiction and traditional and interactive documentary, that feature complex and nuanced protagonists from traditionally underrepresented communities. Her most recent film, Rip Tide, premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival and has screened festivals around the world. She also wrote and co-directed MINE, an animated web series about an unraveling utopian community set in the near future, premiered at the Tribeca film festival and won best web series at American Black Film Festival. Luisa also served as the director and Executive Producer for Rise-Home Stories, an innovative storytelling project funded by the Ford Foundation, which brings together artists and advocates from all over the country to collaboratively harness the power of narrative in the fight for housing, land, and racial justice. The award-winning project includes an animated web series, children’s book, non-fiction podcast, interactive site, and video game that have engaged multigenerational audiences around the world.
Awards History
Sundance Producer's Lab 2023 - Fellow
Credits
Producer - Jolene Pinder
