'Seven Days in Utopia'

Seven Days in Eutopia follows the story of Luke Chisolm (Lucas Black, American Gothic, Sling Blade, Ghosts Of Mississippi), a talented young golfer from Waco, Texas, set on making the PGA Tour.

Reeling from a recently blown pro circuit debut and excessive pressure from his overbearing father who has coached and caddied him since childhood, the film then erupts into Chisolm’s tire-squelching drive through Texas’ sparse countryside.

“You’re playing not to lose instead of playing to win,” Chisolm’s father’s voice echoes through shimmering black-and-white flashback effects.

Enter Utopia, Texas, population 373 – actually 375 because the town’s hand-painted roadside welcome sign needs updating from the recent birth of twin children.

Utopia’s also the home of eccentric rancher and former PGA Professional Johnny Crawford (Robert Duvall), whose days of golfing glory are far behind him.

Chisolm’s path with Crawford intersects after he sees him on horseback standing in the midday Texas sunlight in what amounts to a golfer’s Field Of Dreams.

A distracted Chisolm takes his eyes of the road and then crashes through Crawford’s wood post fence in a plume of dust and debris.
Crawford on horseback trots over to the wreckage where Chisolm inevitably dusts himself off.

Crawford then trades his horse for an early model Chevy pickup truck and the two strangers ride rumble seat into town where Crawford takes Chisolm to the local diner where he makes arrangements to have his car fixed and receives a feeble attempt by local townsfolk at First Aid.

The crash inevitably strands Chisolm in Utopia for seven days – the amount of time it will take to repair his car.  

But while Chisolm exits to check into the local inn for the week, Crawford and friends back at the diner coincidentally catch TV commentators replaying Chisolm’s recent golf tourney tirade.  

This prompts Crawford to mentor the emotionally and spiritually wayward Chisolm – equally for his own redemption than for Chisolm’s.

From there a series of parables follow as Chisolm faces his past and confronts his new found course for the future. Utopia’s spiritual message is what caught the attention of film investors Marty and Jerry Berglund of Denver, Colo.

“We feel there are not enough movies out there that portray life in a positive light,” Marty Berglund said at the premiere’s grand ballroom after party. “We need a lot more goodness these days. And this movie just struck a chord in our hearts.”

The movie is based on the best-selling book by David L. Cook, Golf's Sacred Journey: Seven Days At The Links of Utopia. Cook also is one of the leading sport psychologists in the country.

“They did a great job between translating the messages in the book into the movie,” Bret Berglund said, recalling his family’s fondness for Cook when he would meet for morning inspirational speeches at Cherry Hills County Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 

“The acting was great. And you’ve got Robert Duvall, an Academy Award-winning actor leading the cast so you can’t go wrong with that,” Beau Berglund said.  

For his part, Duvall’s rough-hewn, South Texas huff lends reprise to former roles (Lonesome Dove, Open Range).

And during a supper scene, Duvall fans should recognize his allusion to Eulis “Sonny” Dewey from The Apostle.

But it’s by and large an original and genuine lead performance supported by a cast comprised of relative unknowns who under the direction of Matthew Russell strengthen Duvall’s screen presence and the films underlying message of faith, forgiveness and redemption.

The film also stars Academy Award-winner Melissa Leo, Deborah Ann Woll, Brian Geraghty, Jerry Ferrera, and includes PGA Tour players KJ Choi, Rich Beem, Stewart Cink and Rickie Fowler.

Seven Days In Utopia is set to release in select theaters nationwide on Sept. 2.

For theater listings and more information visit www.sevendaysinutopia.com, www.linksofutopia.com
and www.sevendaysinutopiablog.com.