‘Charlie Harper’ Filmmakers on Setting Romantic Drama During Obama Era: ‘Such a Different Time’

First-time filmmakers Mac Eldridge and Tom Dean, who are making their feature directorial debut at TIFF with the non-linear romantic film “Charlie Harper,” are betting that audiences are ready for a nostalgic return to the optimism of 2008.

“Charlie Harper” centers on the complicated relationship between Charlie (Nick Robinson) and Harper (Emilia Jones) and unfolds in a non-linear way, illustrating the shifts in how they relate to one another over time. The romantic drama, which spans 15 years, is set during Barack Obama’s 2008 election victory and according to co-director and writer Dean, most won’t remember that era.

“It was such a different time compared to what we’re in now,…