Directed by Robert Towne, the film features a screenplay by Towne based on the Depression Era novel by John Fante. Colin Farrell and Salma Hayek head the cast, which also includes performances by Eileen Atkins, Dion Basco, Jeremy Crutchley, Justin Kirk, William Mapother, Donald Sutherland, Tamara Craig Thomas and Menzel.

"Ask the Dust," according to press notes, "focuses on a city exotic and vulgar, glamorous and raunchy — a place of heat and dust. Full of imports — palm trees from Egypt and people from everywhere in search of health and wealth, fame and fortune — L.A. is the city of first and last resort, where all dreams are supposed to come true. So it is for Arturo Bandini (Farrell), a son of Italian immigrants who dreams of becoming a famous novelist and marrying a beautiful blonde, and Camilla Lopez (Hayek), a Mexican who longs to marry a WASP and shed her last name. In a time when Anglo-Chicano relations hang by tattered threads, Bandini and Camilla collide with one another, fighting the city and themselves to make their dreams come true."

Idina Menzel won a Tony Award for Leading Actress in a Musical for her work as Elphaba in Wicked. She created the role of Maureen in the original Broadway company of Rent, and her other theatrical credits include the City Center Encores! production of Hair, the Manhattan Theatre Club The Wild Party, the Public Theater's See What I Wanna See and the benefit Funny Girl concert. Menzel's film credits include "Ask the Dust" and "Rent."

For more information visit www.askthedust-movie.com.