November 11, 2023
FILM: DALTON’S DREAM
DIRECTED BY: KIM LONGINOTTO, FRANKY MURRAY BROWN
STARRING: DALTON HARRIS
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
I got on the American Idol bandwagon about midway through its original run. I watched as Jordin Sparks, Kris Allen, David Cook and others were crowned the big winners on what was, at the time, the most popular show on television. It felt important, like we were crowning a new Miss America or Best Picture Oscar winner. I really liked some of these talented singers but it bothered me that once the season was over, no one connected with the show seemed to know what to do with these obviously popular performers. As such, many of them faded from the public eye. I felt like I’d been misinformed about the power of the show and what it could do to those who lined up for a chance at success. After a few seasons, I stopped watching.
Simon Cowell, who was one of the original Idol judges, eventually moved on to The X Factor, a similar competition show that broadened its definition of a star. Dalton Harris was one of the winners of the show back in 2018. A native of Jamaica, Harris boasted a powerful voice, good looks, and the potential charisma to create a long-lasting career. Unfortunately, his career also faltered after his exposure on the show. The new documentary, Dalton’s Dream, follows the struggles he has had since his time in the sun.
A camera crew is seemingly with him during much of his post-show journey. This includes a trip back to Jamaica where his return was met with wide-ranging results. A big issue: Dalton’s sexual orientation. Jamaica has had anti-gay laws for many years. Dalton, even without officially coming out as gay, became the target of violent threats and family estrangement. Much of the film focuses on this period when he is asked to perform in his home country but has to deal with this dispiriting social climate along with a family that has generally remained distanced from him. There is footage of both of his parents and also plenty of protesters who aim to do Dalton harm. It’s not a happy homecoming to say the least. One has to wonder why he’d even choose to go back there with this less than lukewarm reception.
There are the personal effects of self-hatred, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts that take over Dalton’s mindset making his overall goal to have a hit song even more difficult to achieve. Did his culture instill this woeful lack of self-acceptance? The film illustrates how difficult it has been for Dalton to finally find himself and accept who he really is. It’s a bit of a reckoning for the man and Jamaica. Perhaps it is his final goodbye.
All of this is important to showcase in the film even if it feels a bit heavy-handed at times. What stands out to me even more than any of this though is the life these reality contestants have after their big moment in the sun. It’s interesting to see the self-doubt and the struggles to develop that follow-up hit song. Dalton questions whether his dream is over. We rarely get to see this struggle depicted today. There have been countless numbers of reality show winners who fade from the spotlight. What happens to them professionally and personally afterwards? Dalton’s Dream is but one illustration of that post-15 minutes of fame period of time. While there are details concerning some of Dalton’s mental health issues and personal relationships that are curiously left out of the film, it does provide a warts and all look at some of the struggles of a winner which should be a lesson to anyone who dreams of the success of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.
Dalton’s Dream is playing as part of the DOCNYC festival and is available to be viewed virtually until November 26th. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.docnyc.net/film/daltons-dream/.
FILM: DALTON’S DREAM
DIRECTED BY: KIM LONGINOTTO, FRANKY MURRAY BROWN
STARRING: DALTON HARRIS
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
I got on the American Idol bandwagon about midway through its original run. I watched as Jordin Sparks, Kris Allen, David Cook and others were crowned the big winners on what was, at the time, the most popular show on television. It felt important, like we were crowning a new Miss America or Best Picture Oscar winner. I really liked some of these talented singers but it bothered me that once the season was over, no one connected with the show seemed to know what to do with these obviously popular performers. As such, many of them faded from the public eye. I felt like I’d been misinformed about the power of the show and what it could do to those who lined up for a chance at success. After a few seasons, I stopped watching.
Simon Cowell, who was one of the original Idol judges, eventually moved on to The X Factor, a similar competition show that broadened its definition of a star. Dalton Harris was one of the winners of the show back in 2018. A native of Jamaica, Harris boasted a powerful voice, good looks, and the potential charisma to create a long-lasting career. Unfortunately, his career also faltered after his exposure on the show. The new documentary, Dalton’s Dream, follows the struggles he has had since his time in the sun.
A camera crew is seemingly with him during much of his post-show journey. This includes a trip back to Jamaica where his return was met with wide-ranging results. A big issue: Dalton’s sexual orientation. Jamaica has had anti-gay laws for many years. Dalton, even without officially coming out as gay, became the target of violent threats and family estrangement. Much of the film focuses on this period when he is asked to perform in his home country but has to deal with this dispiriting social climate along with a family that has generally remained distanced from him. There is footage of both of his parents and also plenty of protesters who aim to do Dalton harm. It’s not a happy homecoming to say the least. One has to wonder why he’d even choose to go back there with this less than lukewarm reception.
There are the personal effects of self-hatred, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts that take over Dalton’s mindset making his overall goal to have a hit song even more difficult to achieve. Did his culture instill this woeful lack of self-acceptance? The film illustrates how difficult it has been for Dalton to finally find himself and accept who he really is. It’s a bit of a reckoning for the man and Jamaica. Perhaps it is his final goodbye.
All of this is important to showcase in the film even if it feels a bit heavy-handed at times. What stands out to me even more than any of this though is the life these reality contestants have after their big moment in the sun. It’s interesting to see the self-doubt and the struggles to develop that follow-up hit song. Dalton questions whether his dream is over. We rarely get to see this struggle depicted today. There have been countless numbers of reality show winners who fade from the spotlight. What happens to them professionally and personally afterwards? Dalton’s Dream is but one illustration of that post-15 minutes of fame period of time. While there are details concerning some of Dalton’s mental health issues and personal relationships that are curiously left out of the film, it does provide a warts and all look at some of the struggles of a winner which should be a lesson to anyone who dreams of the success of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.
Dalton’s Dream is playing as part of the DOCNYC festival and is available to be viewed virtually until November 26th. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.docnyc.net/film/daltons-dream/.