After a star-studded two weeks of creatively awe-inspiring cinema, the 65th San Francisco International Film Festival came to a close Saturday evening with a screening event that was just as grand. Cha Cha Real Smooth was the finale movie that was shown, and aside from its own exceptionally-acted magnificence, the night was elevated even further with appearances of its very own Dakota Johnson and Cooper Raiff.
See also: 5 Spectacular Films To Anticipate At This Year's 65th San Francisco International Film Festival
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Not only is award-winning Cooper Raiff the director and producer of this heartfelt masterpiece, but he also stars in it, adding a personal touch to his performance of the 22 year-old main character's coming of age. "I like to describe it as two soulmates helping each other get strong for different phases of their lives," Raiff elucidates.
When asked about why he decided to act in the film as well, which was not initially his intention, he stated, "I think the reason I played all the roles is really because of Dakota. I was not going to act in it, but I think she felt like my first movie I really had all my DNA all over it, and why shouldn't this one?"
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Playing the main character, Cooper truly aimed to convey a "specific good feeling about growing up," hoping that the audiences "take away really good feelings about growing up and finding soulmates."
"Don't be so hard on yourself," Raiff touchingly emphasizes when asked on the biggest advice he can give to those also in their early twenties who might be feeling lost in life. "That's the biggest advice I have for 22 year olds right out of college, is to take it easy because your twenties are all about figuring out who you are, because in this day and age there's a lot of pressure that's not really necessary."
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Cha Cha Real Smooth has already won the Sundance Film Festival’s US Dramatic Audience Award being only his second feature, and the visionary filmmaker has accrued numerous awards and recognition before then as well. Raiff's mid-length film Madeline & Cooper put him on the scene, with his following first feature Shithouse (2020) garnering him both the Grand Jury Narrative Feature prize at the SXSW Film Festival and the San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle’s Special Citation for Independent Cinema Award.
Working With Dakota Johnson on this film, Raiff says, "I feel so lucky and grateful," giving Johnson an adoring look while he reaffirms that "she's the best actress ever."
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Johnson joined Raiff both on the red carpet prior to the screening, and on stage, adorning a Gucci houndstooth power suit while eloquently answering questions on the film's message and impact, even giving a personal San Francisco shout out reiterating how our Film Festival is the oldest in the Americas.
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"It's a different experience for me, rather than being just an actress in a movie," Johnson explains on her thorough role in the film, "this is so much of my blood sweat and tears."
Johnson proudly recalls the whole experience in developing the scripts and characters was "pretty amazing," especially knowing the poignant and visceral impact the movie's specific focus on growing up has for its audience. "It's a movie about being how complicated being a human is and everyone can relate to that."
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A highlight of our red carpet talk with Johnson came when we delved into this effect Johnson has with her storytelling and roles, particularly on the importance of authentic female narratives and playing dynamic female characters:
"The most important I think is that, it's cool to see women on screen that are unreachable or intangeable and in this idolized impossible thing, but then it's also very cool to see women that you recognize in yourself or in your family or friends, and I feel like I learn a lot from stories about women."
With her roles in The Lost Daughter (2021) and in Cha Cha Real Smooth, she tactfully portrayed the complexity and nuanced realness of motherhood, which having this visibility and representation of powerful female characters all adds to the moving experience of her films.
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After these insighful dialogues from Johnson and Raiff the film premiered, with a packed Castro Theatre excited to witness the two grace our historic stage.
As the 65th Festival closes, we can't wait for it to "cha cha" smoothly into next year where we will be on the ground covering all the insider details you need to know.
See also: The San Francisco International Film Festival Premiered With A Star-Studded Screening And Afterparty
Photography by: Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images
