Pretty Red Dress

In the vibrant streets of South London, a family grapples with desire, identity, and the allure of a single crimson garment. “Pretty Red Dress” weaves a tale that dances between heartstrings and secrets, all set to the toe-tapping rhythm of Tina Turner’s iconic hits.

After serving time in prison, Travis (played by rising star Natey Jones) returns home to his partner, Candice (portrayed with understated flair by X Factor winner turned chart-topper and stage/screen star Alexandra Burke). Candice, an ardent Tina Turner fan, is on the cusp of a dream role—an audition for the lead in a West End show about her idol.

But it’s not just any dress that catches Candice’s eye. It’s the titular red dress—a tasselled, dazzling creation that beckons from a shop window. As she contemplates this extravagant purchase, Travis’s face reveals a whirlwind of emotions. Is it the price tag that worries him? Or perhaps something deeper, something he can’t even admit to himself?

Dionne Edwards, the writer-director, centres her film around shame—the hidden burdens we carry and the costs of suppressing our true selves. The characters—Candice, Travis, and their teenage daughter Kenisha—navigate the delicate balance between self-perception and societal expectations. Their struggles mirror the complexities we all face when reconciling our innermost desires with external judgments.

Imagine the anarchic spirit of Some Like It Hot blended with the incantatory edge of Peter Strickland’s In Fabric. Dionne Edwards crafts a tender, expressive drama that resonates long after the credits roll.

So slip into your own metaphorical red dress, let the music guide you, and join this London family on their captivating journey.

FREE MAKES IT INCLUSIVE, DONATIONS MAKE IT HAPPEN 

As part of this year’s Herne Hill Free Film Festival we are pleased to be supporting again the Norwood & Brixton Food Bank, helping to raise awareness for this most worthy of local causes. Any spare change collected at each of our screenings would be greatly appreciated and donated* to help this wonderful charity continue the admirable work.

*After we have covered our production costs