Sunny Dancer review gives a fresh spin to teen 'chemo camp' drama

Bella Ramsey stars in Sunny Dancer, a coming-of-age film about a summer camp for teenagers with cancer directed by George Jaques; the review describes it as big-hearted and well acted while noting its upbeat tone can feel overly euphoric.

Sunny Dancer is a coming-of-age film set at a summer camp for adolescents with cancer, discussed here after a screening at the Berlin film festival. It is written and directed by George Jaques, an actor-turned-director, and stars Bella Ramsey as Ivy, a 17-year-old in remission. The review presents the film as big-hearted and well acted, and also notes that its persistent positivity can sometimes feel unrealistic. The piece highlights a narrative misdirection around an expected tragic or sacrificial figure. Notable points: - Bella Ramsey plays Ivy, a resentful 17-year-old in remission who is reluctantly sent to the therapeutic camp by her parents. - The film is written and directed by 26-year-old George Jaques and was shown at the Berlin film festival. - Supporting cast includes Jessica Gunning, James Norton, Neil Patrick Harris, Ruby Stokes, Earl Cave, Jasmine Elcock, Conrad Khan and Daniel Quinn-Toye. - The review likens the film’s tone to Heartstopper and other summer-camp dramas, noting a broadly LGBTQ+ cast while observing that heterosexual relationships remain prominent. - The reviewer says familiar tropes (oppressive parents, upbeat leaders, rules and bonding rituals) are upended and given a positive, uncynical outlook, though the tone can verge on euphoric; the film also features an amusing star cameo. Summary: The film reframes summer-camp and teen-drama conventions around shared experience of illness, using warmth and therapy-oriented programming rather than religious frameworks, and delivers buoyancy and sunshine despite familiar beats. Undetermined at this time.