The feature film debut from music-video director Geremy Jasper tells the coming-of-age tale of an overweight 23-year-old female underdog from “blue-collar New Jersey” who just happens to be a closet savant rapper. Australian actress Danielle Macdonald stars as Patricia Dombrowski, known to her friends and rivals as “Patti Cake$.”
READ MORE: Danielle Macdonald Takes The Mic In Crowd-Pleaser ‘Patti Cakes’ [Sundance Review]
Jasper has said the film is a love letter to rap music, his life growing up in New Jersey and the loud and foul-mouthed women whom he was surrounded by. Here’s the official synopsis:
PATTI CAKE$ introduces Australian native Danielle Macdonald in a breakout role, as aspiring rapper Patricia Dombrowski, a.k.a. Killa P, a.k.a. Patti Cake$. Fighting an unlikely quest for glory in her downtrodden hometown in Jersey where her life is falling apart, Patti tries to reach the big time in the hip hop scene with original and affecting music. Cheered on by her grandmother (Cathy Moriarty) and only friends, Jheri (Siddharth Dhananjay) and Basterd (Mamoudou Athie), Patti also shoulders her mother’s (Bridget Everett) heartaches and misfortunes.
“Patti Cake$” premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Dramatic Competition. It opens on August 18th.