Juanita (2019 film)


Juanita is an American drama film, directed by Clark Johnson, from a screenplay by Roderick M. Spencer, based upon the novel Dancing on the Edge of the Roof by Sheila Williams. It stars Alfre Woodard and Adam Beach.
It was released on March 8, 2019, by Netflix.

Plot

A Columbus, Ohio woman takes a Greyhound bus to Butte, Montana, where she reinvents herself and meets an interesting cast of characters at a French restaurant.

Cast

In April 2017, it was announced Alfre Woodard, Blair Underwood, Marcus Henderson, Adam Beach, Ashlie Atkinson, Tsulan Cooper, LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Kat Smith, had joined the cast of the film, with Clark Johnson directing from a screenplay by Roderick M. Spencer, based upon the novel by Sheila Williams. Stephanie Allain, Mel Jones and Jason Michael Berman produced the film under their Homegrown Pictures and Mandalay Pictures banners, respectively.

Filming

began in April 2017, in Virginia.

Release

In April 2017, Netflix acquired distribution rights to the film. It was released on March 8, 2019.

Reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 80% based on 15 reviews, with an average rating of 6.5/10. Site's Critics Consensus says: "Juanita's refreshing journey of self-actualization may lead to a predictable destination, but a sterling star turn by Alfre Woodard gives this sojourn an invaluable spark."
Alfre Woodard stated that a sequel was being written in an interview on the Kermode & Mayo Film Review podcast on 10 July 2020.