Low Down is a biopic directed by Jeff Preiss, based on the memoir by Amy-Jo Albany, daughter of the famous jazz pianist Joe Albany. The film had its premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival where it won the Cinematography Award in the U.S. Dramatic category.

Based on the memoir by Amy-Jo Albany, LOW DOWN is a compassionate, tender look at the complex relationship between Amy-Jo (Elle Fanning) and her father Joe (John Hawkes), a man torn between his musical ambition, his devotion to his teenage daughter, and his suffocating heroin addiction. Set against a sensuously textured 1970s Hollywood, the film beautifully evokes a colorful, seedy world of struggling musicians, artists, and vagabonds, in which Joe and Amy-Jo strive to live the lives they want against seemingly insurmountable odds.

John Hawkes could be considered on of “those guys” – the actors you see in a lot of films but don’t really know much about. He initially auditioned for a supporting role in Low Down but ended up getting the lead instead. “They had me in mind for the role of Lester Hobbs, and when that fell apart they started considering me for the lead, as Joe. In the mean time, I read Amy Albany’s book, which was a harrowing read. When Elle Fanning signed on to play Amy, it sealed the deal for me because she’s someone I’ve been keen to work with for several years. We both worked together on a Sigur Rós music video in the desert, but never shot on the same days.”

Low Down is rated 14A.

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