The Black Sea (film)
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Jackson Hunt |
| Edited by | Anastas Petkov |
| Music by | Charles Moselle |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Metrograph Pictures |
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Running time | 96 minutes[1] |
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The Black Sea is a 2024 American-Bulgarian comedy-drama film, directed by Crystal Moselle and Derrick B. Harden. It stars Derrick B. Harden, Irmena Chichikova, Samuel Finzi and Stoyo Mirkov.
It had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 9, 2024, and was released in the United States on November 22, 2024, by Metrograph Pictures.
Premise
[edit]A man makes unexpected connections in a small town, as he finds himself to be the only black person around.
Cast
[edit]- Derrick B. Harden as Khalid
- Irmena Chichikova as Ina
- Samuel Finzi as Boris
- Stoyo Mirkov as Georgi
Production
[edit]Production on the film lasted 16 days, with no script and everything being improvised.[2]
Release
[edit]It had its world premiere at South by Southwest on March 9, 2024.[3] In May 2024, Metrograph Pictures acquired distribution rights to the film.[4] It was released in the United States on November 22, 2024.[5]
Reception
[edit]Critical reception
[edit]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 94% of 17 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.90/10.[6] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 56 out of 100, based on 4 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[7]
Jen Chaney of Vulture praised the film writing: "If Harden weren’t such a naturally magnetic presence, The Black Sea would not work nearly as effectively as it does. But he’s fascinating and unpredictable to observe, carrying the entire film on his shoulders as if it weighs nothing at all."[8] Brandon Yu of The New York Times also praised the film writing: "Moselle and Harden work with a subtle naturalistic touch that makes for a quietly sweet movie about unlikely redemption."[9]
Conversely, Simon Abrams of RogerEbert.com gave the film 1.5 out of 4 stars, writing: "A tepid situation comedy in indie drama drag, "The Black Sea" lacks a sense of urgency."[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "The Black Sea". South by Southwest. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ Boelman, Sean (March 18, 2024). "SXSW: The Black Sea Directors Crystal Moselle and Derrick B. Harden and Producer Izabella Tzenkova Talk Cinematic Freestyling". Disappointment Media. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (January 10, 2024). "SXSW Lineup Sets 'The Fall Guy', '3 Body Problem' Among Fest's 2024 World Premieres As First Titles Revealed". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ Ntim, Zac (May 9, 2024). "Metrograph Pictures Lands U.S. Rights To Crystal Moselle & Derrick B. Harden's SXSW Comedy 'The Black Sea'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
- ^ Bergesen, Samantha (September 26, 2024). "'The Black Sea' Trailer: Crystal Moselle and Derrick B. Co-Direct a Verité Ode to Unexpectedly Upending a Life". IndieWire. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
- ^ "The Black Sea". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- ^ "The Black Sea". Metacritic. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- ^ Chaney, Jen (November 21, 2024). "When An American Purses Bulgarian Dreams". Vulture. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- ^ Yu, Brandon (November 22, 2024). "The Black Sea Review: Bulgarian Dreams". The New York Times. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- ^ Abrams, Simon (November 22, 2024). "The Black Sea". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved November 25, 2024.