Kokomo City Explained

Kokomo City
Director:D. Smith
Cinematography:D. Smith
Editing:D. Smith
Distributor:Magnolia Pictures
Runtime:73 minutes[1]
Country:United States
Language:English
Gross:$118,728[2] [3]

Kokomo City is an 2023 American documentary film, directed, produced, and edited by D. Smith. It explores the lives of four Black trans women and their experiences as sex workers in New York and Georgia. Lena Waithe serves as an executive producer.

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2023, and was released in theaters on July 28, 2023, by Magnolia Pictures.

Plot

The film explores the lives of Daniella Carter, Dominique Silver, Koko Da Doll, and Liyah Mitchell in New York and Georgia through interviews and re-enactments with actors. During the film, Carter, Silver, Doll, and Mitchell discuss their experiences as Black trans women and as sex workers. Smith also interviews Black men.

Production

D. Smith had a successful career in the music industry, producing songs for Lil Wayne, Ciara, Keri Hilson, Billy Porter and André 3000.[4] However, when she began to transition, she was essentially forced out of the industry, and ended up broke and homeless.[5] Smith had the idea for a documentary film revolving around sex work, after wondering what would happen if she had to turn to it to sustain herself, and those who had no other options.[6] Smith was still homeless when she began working on the project, with a camera being purchased by a host of where she was once staying, and a laptop by a producer.[7]

To find subjects for the film, Smith turned to Instagram and YouTube.[8] Smith wanted her subjects to feel comfortable, telling them to talk as if they were talking to her and shooting at lower angles to make it look as if they were at a sleepover.[9] Lena Waithe and her producing partner, Rishi Rajani boarded the film as executive producers after having been blown away after viewing the film.[10]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2023.[11] Shortly after, Magnolia Pictures acquired distribution rights to the film.[12] It also screened at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on February 21, 2023, where it won the Panorama Audience Award,[13] [14] [15] and SXSW on March 13, 2023.[16] It was released in theaters on July 28, 2023.[17] It is scheduled to be broadcast and released on Paramount+ with Showtime on February 2, 2024.[18]

Reception

[19] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 79 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[20]

Peter Debruge of Variety wrote, "This doc rocks, using music to set the tempo for its snappy mix of head-turning talking heads, tongue-in-cheek reenactments and outside-the-box supporting visuals."[21] Lovia Gyarkye of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "these women share their experiences with familial rejection, masculine sexual anxiety and a retaliatory world threatened by the dissolution of the gender binary. Violence - both real and anticipated - is the most obvious thematic thread, but competing for space and attention is beauty."[22] Mey Rude of Out praised the film as an example of Black trans women "getting to be their unfiltered selves on-screen...and not hold anything back."[23]

In a review for the Los Angeles Times, Michael Rechtshaffen writes, "At once bracingly candid and buoyantly energetic, the first feature by Grammy-winning trans singer-songwriter D. Smith clearly earns the trust of its personable quartet, who require little prodding to share their experiences and philosophies as they navigate decidedly nontraditional paths."[24] Wendy Ide wrote for a review in The Observer, "For all the exaggerated winks in the music choices and provocative shots of beautifully lit buttocks, the film is an open and celebratory space in which the women can tell their stories. Some of them are hilarious, others bruising, all are painfully forthright about the all-too-real dangers they face." According to Teo Bugbee in The New York Times, "Smith's approach grants respect to women who are often dehumanized, even in their most intimate settings."[25] Writing for Collider, Lisa Laman observed that 'Kokomo City' flourished as a work of subverting cinema norms by eschewing traditional documentary standards of othering marginalized voices on-screen, noting 'This is a movie where the personal stories of Mitchell, Carter, Silver, and Doll guide the feature along above all else. It’s a welcome departure from other documentaries about trans individuals and sex workers that largely concentrated on folks outside of those fields.' [26]

The film received the Panorama Audience Award at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival[13] and also won the NEXT Audience and Innovator Awards at the 2023 Sundance Festival.[27]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)Result
Sundance Film Festival29 January 2023NEXT Audience AwardKokomo City[28]
NEXT Innovator Award
Berlin International Film Festival25 February 2023Panorama: Best Documentary FilmD. Smith[29]
Teddy Award for Best Documentary/Essay Film
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards12 November 2023Best Documentary FeatureKokomo City[30]
Best First Documentary Feature
Best ScoreD. Smith
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
IndieWire Critics Poll11 December 2023Best DocumentaryKokomo City[31]
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards12 December 2023Best Documentary Film[32]
Las Vegas Film Critics Society13 December 2023Best Documentary[33]
Indiana Film Journalists Association17 December 2023Best Documentary[34]
[35]
San Diego Film Critics Society19 December 2023Best Documentary[36]
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards21 December 2023Best Documentary Film[37] [38]
Golden OrangeD. Smith
National Society of Film Critics Awards6 January 2024Best Non-Fiction FilmKokomo City[39]
Denver Film Critics Society12 January 2024Best Documentary Feature[40]
Cinema Eye Honors12 January 2024Outstanding Non-Fiction FeatureD. Smith, Harris Doran and Bill Butler[41]
Outstanding DirectionD. Smith
Outstanding Cinematography
Outstanding Sound DesignRoni Pillischer
Outstanding DebutKokomo City
The UnforgettablesDaniella Carter, Koko Da Doll, Liyah Mitchell and Dominique Silver
Black Reel Awards16 January 2024Outstanding Documentary FeatureKokomo City[42]
Outstanding CinematographyD. Smith
Outstanding Editing
Directors Guild of America Awards10 February 2024Outstanding Directing – Documentary[43]
Independent Spirit Awards25 February 2024Best Documentary FeatureD. Smith, Bill Butler, Harris Doran[44]
Dorian Awards26 February 2024Documentary of the YearKokomo City[45]
LGBTQ Documentary of the Year
GLAAD Media Awards14 March 2024Outstanding Documentary[46]

Koko Da Doll

On April 18, 2023, Rasheeda Williams, better known as Koko Da Doll, was found dead from a gunshot wound in Southwest Atlanta. Smith said Williams "will inspire generations to come and will never be forgotten." Other tributes came from her costars, one of the film's producers Harris Doran, and the Sundance Film Festival.[47] [48] After her death, the film was dedicated to her.[49] [50]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kokomo City. Sundance Film Festival. April 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230402203154/https://festival.sundance.org/program/film/638a18f0d406b253ebf2cf2c . April 2, 2023.
  2. Web site: Kokomo City (2023). The Numbers. September 1, 2023.
  3. Web site: Kokomo City (2023). Box Office Mojo. September 1, 2023.
  4. Web site: Breakout Director D. Smith, Who 'Lost Everything' When She Transitioned, Just Conquered Sundance. Variety. Matt. Donnelly. January 30, 2023. April 2, 2023.
  5. Web site: Homeless after the music business rejected her as trans, D. Smith is back. Out in Jersey. Chris. Azzopardi. February 15, 2023. April 2, 2023.
  6. Web site: Filmmaker D. Smith's Kokomo City Gives Transgender Women a Real Voice. Ebony. Delania. Dixon. January 20, 2023. April 2, 2023.
  7. Web site: Berlinale Panorama interview: Kokomo City by D Smith. Business Doc Europe. Geoffrey. Macnab. February 22, 2023. April 2, 2023.
  8. Web site: D. Smith Talks KOKOMO CITY and Trans Representation. POV. Pat. Mullen. January 21, 2023. April 2, 2023.
  9. Web site: Breakthrough Director D. Smith On Her Sundance And Berlin-Winning 'Kokomo City,' An Unfiltered View Of Black Trans Women. Deadline Hollywood. Matthew. Carey. March 1, 2023. April 2, 2023.
  10. Web site: How Two Sundance-Winning Films Forecast the Future for Lena Waithe's Hillman Grad Production Company. Variety. Angelique. Jackson. February 3, 2023. April 2, 2023.
  11. Web site: Sundance Film Festival Lineup Set With Ukraine War, Little Richard, Michael J. Fox, Judy Blume Docs; Pics With Anne Hathaway, Emilia Clarke, Jonathan Majors; More. Deadline Hollywood. Anthony. D'Alessandro. Dominic. Patten. December 7, 2022. April 2, 2023.
  12. Web site: Magnolia Bags WW Rights To Sundance Docu 'Kokomo City' On Black Transgender Sex Workers. Deadline Hollywood. Mike Jr.. Fleming. January 22, 2023. April 2, 2023.
  13. Web site: Berlin: 'Kokomo City,' 'Sira' Win Panorama Audience Awards. The Hollywood Reporter. Scott. Roxborough. February 25, 2023. April 2, 2023.
  14. Web site: Kokomo City. Berlin International Film Festival. April 2, 2023.
  15. Web site: Berlin: George MacKay, Béatrice Dalle, Fan Bingbing, Sandra Hüller & Joan Baez Movies Head To Fest. Deadline Hollywood. Melanie. Goodfellow. January 18, 2023. April 2, 2023.
  16. Web site: Kokomo City. South by Southwest. April 2, 2023.
  17. Web site: 40 Films to See This Summer. The Film Stage. April 25, 2023. April 25, 2023.
  18. Web site: Paramount+ And Showtime Set Streaming And Linear Debut For Oscar Contender ‘Kokomo City,’ D. Smith’s Stunning Directorial Debut. Deadline Hollywood. Matthew. Carey. December 18, 2023. January 7, 2024.
  19. Kokomo City. kokomo_city. m. April 18, 2024.
  20. Web site: Kokomo City. Metacritic. August 16, 2023.
  21. Web site: Debruge . Peter . 2023-01-27 . 'Kokomo City' Review: Trans Sex Workers Reframe Their Narrative in D. Smith's Raucous Doc . 2023-07-06 . . en-US.
  22. Web site: Gyarkye . Lovia . 2023-02-16 . 'Kokomo City' Review: A Striking Kaleidoscopic Portrait of Black Trans Women . 2023-07-05 . . en-US.
  23. Web site: Rude. Mey. D. Smith. Out. November 20, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231027155608/https://www.out.com/out100/disruptors/d-smith. October 27, 2023. live.
  24. News: Rechtshaffen . Michael . Review: In 'Kokomo City,' trans sex workers, rowdy and risky, get a compassionate profile . 18 October 2023 . . 4 August 2023.
  25. News: Bugbee . Teo . 'Kokomo City' Review: Dispatches From the Down Low . 18 October 2023 . . July 27, 2023.
  26. https://collider.com/kokomo-city-documentary/
  27. Web site: Sundance: 'A Thousand and One,' Nikki Giovanni Doc Take Top Jury Prizes. Hollywood Reporter. January 27, 2023. Mia . Galuppo. April 21, 2023.
  28. Sundance Winners: 'A Thousand and One' Takes U.S. Dramatic Jury Prize (Complete List). Variety. Matt. Donnelly. Peter. Debruge. 27 January 2023. 27 January 2023.
  29. Web site: Berlin: French Documentary 'On the Adamant' Wins Golden Bear for Best Film . Scott Roxborough . Hollywood Reporter . 25 February 2023 . 26 February 2023. en.
  30. Web site: Critics Choice Documentary Awards: 'American Symphony' Leads Nominations, Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour' Lands Nod After Record-Setting Weekend. Variety. Clayton. Davis. October 16, 2023. October 16, 2023.
  31. Web site: Blauvelt . Christian . December 11, 2023 . 2023 Critics Poll: The Best Films and Performances, According to 158 Critics from Around the World . December 11, 2023 . . en-US . December 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231221140607/https://www.indiewire.com/features/best-of/best-movies-2023-critics-survey-poll-performances-1234933605/ . live .
  32. Web site: Tallerico . Brian . December 8, 2023 . Killers of the Flower Moon, Oppenheimer, Poor Things Lead CFCA Nominations . December 8, 2023 . . en.
  33. Web site: Neglia . Matt . December 13, 2023 . The 2023 Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) Winners . January 21, 2024 . Next Best Picture . en-US.
  34. Web site: Rogers . Nick . December 12, 2023 . Nominations Announced for the 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards . January 21, 2024 . Midwest Film Journal . en-US.
  35. Web site: Neglia . Matt . December 17, 2023 . The 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Winners . January 21, 2024 . Next Best Picture . en-US.
  36. Web site: Anderson . Erik . December 15, 2023 . San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) Nominations . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231215172434/https://awardswatch.com/san-diego-film-critics-society-sdfcs-nominations/ . December 15, 2023 . December 15, 2023 . AwardsWatch . en-US.
  37. Web site: Florida Film Critics Circle (FFCC) Nominations. AwardsWatch. Erik. Anderson. December 13, 2023. December 14, 2023.
  38. Web site: "The Boy and the Heron" flies high with Florida Film Critics . 2023-12-21 . Florida Film Critics Circle . en.
  39. Web site: Lewis . Hilary . January 6, 2024 . Past Lives Named Best Picture by National Society of Film Critics . January 6, 2024 . . en-US.
  40. Web site: Neglia . Matt . January 12, 2024 . The 2023 Denver Film Critics Society (DFCS) Winners . Next Best Picture . January 21, 2024.
  41. Web site: 'The 1619 Project,' 'Nothing Lasts Forever' Lead Charge As Cinema Eye Honors Announces First Round Of Documentary Nominations [Full List]]. Deadline. Matthew. Carey. October 19, 2023. November 17, 2023.
  42. Web site: Complex . Valerie . December 15, 2023 . Black Reel Awards Nominations: ‘The Color Purple’ And ‘Rustin’ Dominate . December 16, 2023 . Deadline Hollywood.
  43. News: Buchanan . Kyle . January 10, 2024 . Christopher Nolan Continues Momentum with Directors Guild Nomination . live . January 10, 2024 . . 1553-8095 . January 10, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240110200203/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/10/movies/directors-guild-awards-christopher-nolan.html .
  44. Web site: ‘American Fiction,’ ‘May December,’ ‘Past Lives’ Lead 2024 Indie Spirits Noms. IndieWire. Christian. Blauvelt. December 5, 2023. December 5, 2023.
  45. Web site: Kaloi . Stephanie. Roe. Mike. February 26, 2024 . LGBTQ+ Critics Awards 2024: Greta Gerwig Wins Director of the Year, ‘All Of Us Strangers’ Takes Top Film Prizes. . en-US.
  46. Web site: GLAAD Media Awards Nominations Revealed. Deadline Hollywood. January 17, 2024. Erik. Pedersen.
  47. News: Jackson . Angelique . April 20, 2023 . Kokomo City Documentary Star Koko da Doll Found Dead at 35 . . April 21, 2023.
  48. Web site: Koko Da Doll, Star of 'Kokomo City' Sundance Documentary, Found Dead in Atlanta. Hollywood Reporter. April 21, 2023. Carly . Thomas. Etan . Vlessing. April 21, 2023.
  49. News: Ide . Wendy . Kokomo City review – the perilous, gutsy lives of four Black trans sex workers . 20 October 2023 . . 6 August 2023.
  50. News: Smith . D. . 'Kokomo City' Filmmaker D. Smith Honors Koko Da Doll: 'There's Something Very Divine About Her Being in This Film' . 20 October 2023 . . 7 August 2023.