Raising Buchanan

In suburban Phoenix, 40-year-old donut shop employee Ruth Kiesling (Amanda Melby) is not exactly living the dream. She’s got anger issues, no mother, a dead brother, and a father (M. Emmet Walsh) in hospice. Her few friends include Meg (Cathy Shim), her game-for-anything confidante since jr high; Holly (Jennifer Pfalzgraff), a janitor/amateur ventriloquist; and her probation officer, Crosby (Terence Bernie Hines).Ruth’s only creative outlet is playing cello in a series of popular videos featuring Errol (Steve Briscoe), an egotistical ventriloquist. His followers proudly-and literally-wear their allegiance to their “art” with dummies are strapped across their torsos like badass bandoleros. Ever the opportunist and desperate for money, Ruth finds herself in a position to “steal” the body of President James Buchanan (René Auberjonois). She does so, hoping to ransom him for a nice windfall – but she’s surprised to discover that no one seems particularly interested in getting him back.