"Cocker Spanchovy"

Author(s): Kwame
Location: Florida

"Cocker Spanchovy"

Directed by Todd Solondz
Written by Todd Solondz
Music by Nathan Larson
Produced by: Ted Hope and Christine Vachon

Main Cast

Grace Zabriskie as Eileen Kwiasniewski
Eric Schweig as Elias "Bearclaw" Kwiasniewski
Dylan Baker as Steven Kwiasniewski
Tonya Pinkins as Sharona Tucker-Kwiasniewski

Tagline: "N/A"

Synopsis: OEileen Kwiasniewski is a 65 year-old recently retired children's book illustrator who lives with her adopted son Elias in a small townhouse in the small town of Fernandina Beach,Florida. Elias, who is 40 years old, and Native American, is sort of an Internet celebrity,(under the name of "Bearclaw"), with a series of videos in which he imitates a diverse array of animals having sex with each other. Eileen is proud of her otherwise unemployed son for having something to do. When she is not busy praising Elias, she devotes a lot of time fuming over how she was denied acceptance to the prestigious Nation Children's Book Illustrators Association of America, otherwise known as the "NCBIAA".

One day,after having been invited by her biological son Steven, also a children's book illustrator and local politician and his wife Sharona, Eileen and Elias take a roadtrip down to Jupiter, Florida to visit. Steven and Sharona are currently working hard for Steven's mayoral campaign, with the elections being held the day after Eileen and Elias arrive. To nobody's surprise, Steven wins, and his mother is ecstatic. That night, at his election celebration, Steven gets to talk to Elias, who he hadn't seen in a long while. Being very drunk, the new mayor tells his brother mid-conversation that it was he who denied his mother acceptance to the NCBIAA.Elias, being quite surprised, tells Eileen of this. Feeling completely betrayed, she and Elias try to come up with the ultimate revenge, and they do: They anonymously inform town officials of a "sex scandal" involving the new mayor.But would they buy it,and would it be enough to get him out of office?

What the Press would say:

"Cocker Spanchovy" is everything that one would expect from the mind of Todd Solondz-and more. It's hilarious,witty,sharp, original, and well-crafted. Solondz is a master at working with actors, and this movie proves this. As Eileen, Grace Zabriskie finally has her first leading role, and she is exceptional! Says Peter Travers "Never would I ever imagine that it would take a Todd Solondz comedy to give this extraordinary character actress her first leading role; what she does with her character is outstanding.She makes this character unique, and convincing." Eric Schweig has also generated raves, in his first major role.David Ansen of Newsweek cries "Eric Schweig is a riot! This guy has comedic ability to rival that of Steve Carrel, Will Ferrell, or any big comedian working today". Dylan Baker and Tonya Pinkins have also gotten notices for their brave and inspired supporting roles in Solondz's latest which is "already destined to become a classic!"