Chasing Dust is a coming-of-age story that follows Brian Harper, a young man who gets stranded in the desert. Brian must come to terms with his past before finding the strength to move on.
The film was written and co-directed by Arizona local and Verrado High School alumnus, Benjamin Doerksen. The film, heavily influenced by Doerksen’s time in high school, follows Brian as he navigates life through high school, which slowly starts to unravel when his relationship with his girlfriend, Emily, becomes complicated.
Emily is played by another West-Valley native, Hannah Chandler, who spent her middle school and high school years in Surprise. Chasing Dust is historic for Chandler being her first major role in a feature film. She demands the screen and the audience’s attention through a truly remarkable performance.
The film screening on November 7 at the Hilltop Theatre marks the official Arizona premiere of the film bringing this heartfelt story home to Arizona.