Swan Song is a 2021 American drama film, written, directed, and produced by Todd Stephens. It stars Udo Kier, Jennifer Coolidge, Linda Evans, Michael Urie, Ira Hawkins, and Stephanie McVay.
The film premiered at South by Southwest on March 17, 2021. It premiered in a limited release on August 6, 2021, prior to video on demand by Magnolia Pictures on August 13, 2021.
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Plot
Retired hairdresser Pat Pitsenbarger, once renowned as the "Liberace of Sandusky", takes a long walk to style his former client's hair for her funeral.
Release
The film had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 17, 2021. Prior to, Magnolia Pictures acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film. It was released in a limited release on August 6, 2021, prior to video on demand on August 13, 2021.
Reception
Critical response
Swan Song received positive reviews from film critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of 102 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "Udo Kier's layered performance lends Swan Song a nuance and poignancy that offset its potentially outlandish story." On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 65 out of 100, based on 26 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Accolades
On December 14, 2021, Udo Kier was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead and Stephens for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay. On January 21, 2022, the film itself was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Limited Release.