Bella Ramsey’s new comedy-drama Sunny Dancer has become available to watch in the UK. The movie, which also features James Norton, focuses on a teenager who goes to a summer camp after beating cancer.
17-year-old Ivy (played by Ramsey) is encouraged to attend the ‘Chemo Camp’ in Scotland alongside other teens with similar diagnoses, though after a challenging start, Ivy begins to find friends and connection.
Sunny Dancer is now out to watch after being released in cinemas in the UK today, so be sure to catch it.
True Brit Entertainment
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The movie comes from writer and director George Jaques, who was inspired to make it after his own family history with cancer, and a desire to defy expectations around the disease.
“My mum had cancer for a long time when I was growing up,” he previously shared. “I think it was part of why I got into writing. Having that background as a teenager, and her getting diagnosed massively impacted the way I saw the world. So I knew I wanted to tell a cancer story.”
He also wanted to reflect the experiences of teenage cancer patients he met as an ambassador for the Teenage Cancer Trust, adding: “I want to do a film with no hospital scenes.
“I wanted to make a film where cancer was the least interesting thing about the characters. They have these skills, this whole life, because they are still teenagers.”
Colin J Smith
Sunny Dancer has received acclaim from critics, sitting at a near-perfect 92% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 13 reviews.
FirstShowing.net described it as “a near perfect summer camp comedy that is as unique and refreshing as it is funny and endearing”.
“Sunny Dancer is an excellent comedy starring Bella Ramsey, backed by a fantastic, witty cast of young performers and a few veterans,” added Next Best Picture. “This is a gem of a film that should be sought out by all.”
Sunny Dancer is out now in UK cinemas.
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every ‘t’ and dotting every ‘i’ as a sub-editor.