A documentary chronicle following Dina Buno and Scott Levin's relationship and their journey through festival acclaim.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Introduction and Context
The documentary introduces Dina Buno and Scott Levin, establishing their partnership and shared autism spectrum diagnosis. The filmmakers begin capturing their daily lives and relationship dynamics.
Key Events
Documentary Introduction — Introduction of Dina Buno and Scott Levin as the central subjects. Location: Documentary Opening
Autism Spectrum Context — Establishment of both subjects sharing an autism spectrum diagnosis. Location: Personal Background
Filmmaking Initiation — Directors begin documenting the couple's daily life and relationship. Location: Production Phase
Editing Process Begins — Editor starts structuring the raw footage into a cohesive narrative. Location: Editing Suite
Runtime Finalization — The documentary reaches its final 101-minute runtime. Location: Post-Production
Sundance Submission — The completed film is submitted to the Sundance Film Festival. Location: Festival Submission
Production and Editing
The filmmaking process unfolds as directors and editors shape the raw footage into a cohesive 101-minute narrative. The team prepares the documentary for festival submission.
Key Events
Sundance Submission — The completed film is submitted to the Sundance Film Festival. Location: Festival Submission
Festival Premiere — World premiere of the documentary at Sundance in 2017. Location: Sundance Film Festival
Audience Reception — Initial audience response to the authentic portrayal of the couple. Location: Festival Screening
Grand Jury Deliberation — Jury members evaluate the documentary's impact and honesty. Location: Sundance Jury Room
Grand Jury Prize Win — Film wins the U.S. Documentary Grand Jury Prize. Location: Sundance Awards Ceremony
Boston Editing Honor — Editor receives the Karen Schmeer Award for editing excellence. Location: Independent Film Festival Boston
Festival Premiere and Awards
The film premieres at Sundance, winning the U.S. Documentary Grand Jury Prize. Subsequent awards recognize the editing, production, and the subjects' authentic portrayal.
Key Events
Boston Editing Honor — Editor receives the Karen Schmeer Award for editing excellence. Location: Independent Film Festival Boston
IDA Feature Recognition — Film honored as the best feature documentary of the year. Location: IDA Awards
Sarasota Jury Prize — Special jury prize awarded for honesty and humanity. Location: Sarasota Film Festival
Producer Vision Award — Dan Sickles receives the Producer’s Vision Award. Location: Sun Valley Film Festival
Cinema Eye Honors — Subjects listed among the 2017 Unforgettables. Location: Cinema Eye Honors
Sheffield Nomination — Film nominated for the Grand Jury award. Location: Sheffield Doc/Fest
Recognition and Legacy
The documentary continues to receive honors across multiple festivals, cementing its reputation for honesty and humanity. The subjects and creators are celebrated for their cultural impact.
Key Events
Sheffield Nomination — Film nominated for the Grand Jury award. Location: Sheffield Doc/Fest
Song Nomination — Film's song nominated for Best Song in a Documentary. Location: Critics' Choice Documentary Awards
Peek Award Ceremony — Film receives the Peek Award in 2018. Location: Utah Film Center
Critical Acclaim — Widespread critical praise for the documentary's authenticity. Location: Media Coverage
Documentary Legacy — Film establishes a lasting legacy in documentary filmmaking. Location: Cultural Impact
Story Breakdown
Subject Introduction — Establishes the central figures and their shared neurodivergent identity.
Partner Dynamics — Explores the romantic and daily life bond between Dina and Scott.
Autism Context — Provides background on their spectrum diagnosis and lived experience.
Filmmaking Process — Details the production, direction, and editorial construction of the film.
Director Involvement — Santini and Sickles guide the documentary's visual and narrative approach.
Editorial Craft — Subercaseaux shapes the pacing and emotional resonance of the footage.
Festival Premiere — Tracks the documentary's debut and initial audience reception at Sundance.
Sundance Debut — The film's first public screening generates critical and audience interest.
Jury Evaluation — Festival jurors assess the documentary's authenticity and storytelling.
Award Recognition — Chronicles the series of honors received across multiple film festivals.
Grand Jury Prize — The film wins the top U.S. Documentary award at Sundance.
Technical Honors — Editing and production teams receive specialized festival awards.
Critical Acclaim — Highlights the broader industry recognition and media response to the film.
IDA and Sheffield Nominations — The documentary gains prestige through major industry nominations.
Song and Music Nods — The film's musical contributions receive award consideration.
Cultural Legacy — Examines the lasting impact of the documentary on audiences and filmmakers.
Cinema Eye Honors — Subjects are recognized for their unforgettable real-life portrayal.
Peek Award — The film receives final festival recognition in 2018.
Dina, an outspoken and eccentric 49-year-old in suburban Philadelphia, invites her fiancé Scott, a Walmart door greeter, to move in with her. Having grown up neurologically diverse in a world blind to the value of their experience, the two are head-over-heels for one another, but shacking up poses a new challenge. Scott freezes when it comes to physical intimacy, and Dina, a Kardashians fanatic, wants nothing more than to share with Scott all she’s learned about sensual desire from books, TV shows, and her previous marriage. Her increasingly creative forays to draw Scott close keep hitting roadblocks—exposing anxieties, insecurities, and communication snafus while they strive to reconcile their conflicting approaches to romance and intimacy.
