Introduction

Dear Dictator is a 2017 American satire comedy film written and directed by Lisa Addario and Joe Syracuse.

The film stars Michael Caine, Katie Holmes, Odeya Rush, Seth Green, and Jason Biggs.

The plot follows a sixteen-year-old American girl who becomes the pen pal of a notorious island nation dictator even when he is deposed.

Outline

Tatiana Mills (Odeya Rush), a fifteen-year-old American girl, lives a quasi-chaotic life with her single mother Darlene (Katie Holmes), who is in a complex romantic relationship with her married boss Dr. Charles (Seth Green) who is a dentist with a foot fetish. In a letter writing exercise started by her Social studies teacher (Jason Biggs), Tatiana becomes pen pals with Anton Vincent (Michael Caine), a notorious island nation dictator.

When Vincent is deposed by his own people, who rise up against his violent and oppressive rule, he disappears, causing Tatiana to worry about his safety. A few days later, he unexpectedly arrives in the United States and seeks refuge in Tatiana’s suburban garage. There, he develops a grandfatherly relationship with the teen and her struggling mother, becoming a useful man around the house while organizing his restoration as leader with loyalist forces back in his unnamed homeland.

Anton shifts his focus to Tatiana’s high school life and her desire to deliver payback to the popular girls that bully her. He makes her a dictator-in-training and teaches her to rise to power in her school in a similar way to his ascent to power in the Caribbean. Ultimately his plans go too far, putting her at odds with Tatiana, who also comes under investigation from the security services who have picked up on Anton’s communication with his loyalist forces and suspect she is involved with terrorism.

The police interview both Tatiana and Darlene and search their house, blissfully unaware that the old man in the house is Anton Vincent – whose whereabouts are unknown. No evidence is found and they are released, but upon release Tatiana informs the police that the old man is Vincent and he is arrested pending extradition.

Cast

• Michael Caine as General Anton Vincent.
• Katie Holmes as Darlene Mills.
• Odeya Rush as Tatiana Mills.
• Seth Green as Dr. Charles Seaver.
• Jason Biggs as Mr. Spines.
• Jackson Beard as Denny.
• Jay Willick as Detective Diggs.
• Adrian Voo as Neighbour.
• Fish Myrr as Sarvia.
• Hannah Joy Brown as Chivas.
• Jordyn Cavros as Gigi.
• Tony Guerrero as Pastor Ramirez.
• Dana Joyce Schiller as Detective Spano.
• Jacob Grodnik as Teddy.

Production

The script was shown among the 2006 Black List of unproduced scripts. Also in 2006, the script was presented as a staged reading at the Nantucket Film Festival. Alfred Molina, Robert De Niro and Anthony Hopkins were previously attached as the dictator role. On 08 June 2016, Michael Caine and Maisie Williams were announced as the lead stars of the film.

Principal photography on the film began on 29 July 2016 at 402 Arlington rd. in Savannah, Georgia. First photographs of Katie Holmes and Odeya Rush filming scenes for the film were published on E! News on 31 July 2016. Production wrapped in October 2016.

Release

Dear Dictator held advance screenings, under its working title Coup d’Etat, at the Nantucket Film Festival, New Jersey Indie Street Film Festival, Carmel International Film Festival and the Napa Valley Film Festival.

Cinedigm released the film in North America simultaneously in theatres and on video on demand on 16 March 2018, followed by a DVD release on 24 April 2018. The first trailer was released on 17 January 2018.

Trivia

• General Anton Vincent’s (Sir Michael Caine’s) fictional national motto is “Homeland or Death”.
  • This is a literal translation from Spanish “Patria o Muerte”, which was (and is) Cuban national motto under Fidel Castro.
  • The Cuban Communist regime, with its climate, tropical location, uniforms, and even Anton’s appearance, is heavily referenced in this movie.
• The flag used in this movie, yellow, green and a red star, as the dictator’s land flag is the real one of the French Guiana, an ultramarine department of France in South America.
• All of the high school scenes were filmed at Benedictine Military School, an all-male Catholic military school in Savannah, Georgia.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Lisa Addario.
  • Joe Syracuse.
• Producer(s):
  • Lisa Addario … producer.
  • Mary Aloe … producer.
  • Robert Ogden Barnum … producer.
  • Paul Brett … executive producer.
  • Wayne Chang … executive producer.
  • Michael Clofine … executive producer.
  • Luke Daniels … executive producer.
  • Nadine de Barros … executive producer (as Nadine DeBarros).
  • DJ Dodd … executive producer.
  • Paul English … executive producer.
  • Anders Erdén … executive producer (as Anders Erden).
  • Kevin Scott Frakes … executive producer.
  • Jorge Garcia Castro … producer.
  • Sean Glover … executive producer.
  • Demian Gregory … executive producer.
  • Daniel Grodnik … producer.
  • Lila Janakievski … executive producer.
  • Lucas Jarach … producer.
  • Dennis Stuart Murphy … line producer.
  • George Nedelkovski … executive producer.
  • Alan Pao … executive producer.
  • Buddy Patrick … executive producer.
  • Rosemberg Salgado … executive producer.
  • Joel Shapiro … producer (as Jake Shapiro).
  • Rob Simmons … executive producer.
  • Tim Smith … executive producer.
  • Peter Stewart … executive producer.
  • James Swarbrick … executive producer.
  • Nicolas Veinberg … executive producer.
  • Adrian Voo … executive producer.
• Writer(s):
  • Lisa Addario.
  • Joe Syracuse.
• Music:
  • Sebastián Kauderer … (original music by).
• Cinematography:
  • Wyatt Troll.
• Editor(s):
  • Kent Beyda.
• Production:
  • Hector Coup.
  • Defiant Pictures.
  • Aloe Entertainment (in association with).
  • Bluegrass Pictures (as Coastal Film Studios).
  • WYSJ Media (in association with).
  • Digital Ignition Entertainment.
  • Hindsight Media (in association with) (as Prescience).
  • Tunnel Post.
  • Wicked Magic Productions.
• Distributor(s):
  • Cinedigm Entertainment Group (2018) (USA) (theatrical).
  • OctoArts Films (2018) (Philippines) (theatrical).
  • Falcon Films (2017) (Lebanon) (all media) (Middle East, North Africa & Iran).
  • Inopia Films (2017) (Spain) (all media).
  • NOS Audiovisuais (2018) (Portugal) (all media).
  • New KSM (2019) (Germany) (DVD).
  • SC Movies (2021) (Australia) (video).
  • Universal Pictures Benelux (2018) (Belgium) (DVD).
  • Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2018) (World-wide) (all media).
  • Universal Pictures (2018) (Netherlands) (DVD).
• Release Date: 22 June 2017 (Nantucket Film festival, US).
• Running Time: 90 minutes.
• Rating: 15.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

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