MDMA (2017)

In 1984, the most powerful drug dealer on the west coast was a 19 year old coed. Based on actual events.

Director:

Angie Wang

Writers:

Angie Wang, Angie Wang

Stars:

Francesca Eastwood, Elisa Donovan, Pierson Fode

Cast

Credited cast:
Francesca Eastwood	...	Jeanine
Elisa Donovan	...	Mary
Pierson Fode	...	Alex
Yetide Badaki	...	Anita
Annie Q.	...	Angie
Noah Segan	...	Lior
Henry Zaga	...	Donnie
Ron Yuan	...	Michael
Angie Wang	...	Boss Lady
Jackie Dallas	...	Waitress
Cooper Chow	...	Tommy's Uncle
Joseph John Schirle	...	Stephen Rockwell
Sydney Van Delft	...	College Student
Phillip E. Walker	...	Talking Old Dude
Alice Ko	...	Mourner

Storyline

"Angie" (Annie Q), a damaged girl from a tough urban background, is accepted at a prestigious university in the 80s. When her financial aid is cut, she breaks into the organic chemistry lab and synthesizes the drug Ecstasy. She becomes one of the west coast's largest distributors of "X," cutting deals on campus and in posh nightclubs. Her dual life as "model minority" coed and profit-driven drug dealer is further complicated by her desire to help "Bree," a young girl from the ghetto who reminds Angie of her own dark past. She lives the high life until her recklessness instigates a sudden tragedy from which she may not recover. Will she learns to give and receive the love necessary to transcend her past and step into the light?

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Plot Keywords:

methylenedioxymethamphetamine | dysfunctional family | self mutilation | breasts | threesome | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 September 2018 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cardinal X

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blue Creek Pictures,Fire Horse Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Angie: You're the gayest straight man that I've ever met.

User Reviews

Truth, Trials and Errors

Angie Wang is a warrior in life and made a daring artistic contribution sharing parts of her college year life trying to cope with family and money issues and achieve academic, romantic, economic and human success.

Angie X, played perfectly by Annie Q, is a romanticized version of an angry, conflicted but smart, sexy and resourceful youth that comes to a collage where her first generation immigration and social class makes her adaptation more adventurous.

The casting choices, camera work, wardrobe and sets to match the 80s feel all seem right and we are able to do what director Wang, asked us the the start of her Mnotreal Worl Film Festival first screening: immerse ourselves in the movie and be transported.

After an hour and a half in the theatre, that felt much longer in terms of content, but also timeless and not wanting the movie to end and leave these likable characters and their quirky lives.

The only personal choices I felt could have been better are the over-expression of anger which I later learned are Angie's character traits and constant reaction based on her past and way to deal with pressure, as well as some occasional superfluous flashbacks that did not always work to enhance the scenes and character development. Everything else about this independent film written, directed and produced by Angie Wang with a great deal of passion and perseverance is pristine and palpable.

Angie is contrasted by her two best friends, a Chinese American boy classmate and an "All American" rich girl roommate and their respective families. They have different views and values but lots of love, attention and affection for Angie. She also has her own distant parents and brother, especially her father figure. We see her dysfunctional family through flashbacks and she also decides to be a big sister to an even more dysfunctional crack addict family.

Angie becomes a drug-dealer of a then legal party drug for rich kids "White" kids (MDNA/Ecstasy) - and becomes a master chemist like Walter White - which affects lives around here in different ways. In parallel, and paradoxically, she also tries to rescue a "Black" little sister affected by lower class street drugs, both legal (alcohol and cigarettes) and illegal (crack).

Angies tries to find respect and pleasure in school and social settings with her grades, her drugs and romantic interests. A particular sex scene is quite alluring and seems natural, beautiful, beneficial.

The ending which follows a particular dramatic denouement is sad and hopeful, open and soft-spoken. It lets the viewer know that life is not perfect, but life goes on. The best advice, story and point of view comes from her father Michael, played with gusto by Ron Yuan.

This film is a well worth addictive addition to the drug dealer movie for the low, middle and upper class, college student and parents alike.

Bravo Angie! Looking forward to a following project from this fine first time filmmaker.

USA 2017 | 94 mins | MONTREAL WORLD FILM FESTIVAL | English