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Kokomo City

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Kokomo City
Film poster
Directed byD. Smith
Produced by
CinematographyD. Smith
Edited byD. Smith
Production
companies
  • Couch Potatoe Pictures
  • Hillman Grad Productions
Distributed byMagnolia Pictures
Release dates
  • January 21, 2023 (2023-01-21) (Sundance)
  • July 28, 2023 (2023-07-28) (United States)
Running time
73 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$118,728[2][3]

Kokomo City is a 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

[edit]

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.[4] During the film, Carter, Silver, Doll, and Mitchell discuss their experiences as Black trans women and as sex workers.[5][6] Smith also interviews Black men.[5]

Production

[edit]

D. Smith had a successful career in the music industry, producing songs for Lil Wayne, Ciara, Keri Hilson, Billy Porter and André 3000.[7] However, when she began to transition, she was essentially forced out of the industry, and ended up broke and homeless.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]

To find subjects for the film, Smith turned to Instagram and YouTube.[11] 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.[12] Lena Waithe and her producing partner, Rishi Rajani boarded the film as executive producers after having been blown away after viewing the film.[13]

Release

[edit]

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2023.[14] Shortly after, Magnolia Pictures acquired distribution rights to the film.[15] It also screened at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on February 21, 2023, where it won the Panorama Audience Award,[16][17][18] and SXSW on March 13, 2023.[19] It was released in theaters on July 28, 2023.[20] It is scheduled to be broadcast and released on Paramount+ with Showtime on February 2, 2024.[21]

Reception

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 99% of 76 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "Kokomo City is a rousing docu effort that illuminates trans lives within a world of adverse circumstance and invariable optimism."[22] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 79 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[23]

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."[24] 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."[5] 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."[25]

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."[6] 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."[26] 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."[4] 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.' [27]

The film received the Panorama Audience Award at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival[16] and also won the NEXT Audience and Innovator Awards at the 2023 Sundance Festival.[28]

Accolades

[edit]
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Sundance Film Festival 29 January 2023 NEXT Audience Award Kokomo City Won [29]
NEXT Innovator Award Won
Berlin International Film Festival 25 February 2023 Panorama: Best Documentary Film D. Smith Won [30]
Teddy Award for Best Documentary/Essay Film Nominated
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards 12 November 2023 Best Documentary Feature Kokomo City Nominated [31]
Best First Documentary Feature Nominated
Best Score D. Smith Nominated
Best Cinematography Nominated
Best Editing Nominated
IndieWire Critics Poll 11 December 2023 Best Documentary Kokomo City 1st Place [32]
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 12 December 2023 Best Documentary Film Won [33]
Las Vegas Film Critics Society 13 December 2023 Best Documentary Nominated [34]
Indiana Film Journalists Association 17 December 2023 Best Documentary Won [35]
[36]
San Diego Film Critics Society 19 December 2023 Best Documentary Nominated [37]
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards 21 December 2023 Best Documentary Film Nominated [38][39]
Golden Orange D. Smith Won
National Society of Film Critics Awards 6 January 2024 Best Non-Fiction Film Kokomo City Runner-up[a] [40]
Denver Film Critics Society 12 January 2024 Best Documentary Feature Nominated [41]
Cinema Eye Honors 12 January 2024 Outstanding Non-Fiction Feature D. Smith, Harris Doran and Bill Butler Nominated [42]
Outstanding Direction D. Smith Nominated
Outstanding Cinematography Nominated
Outstanding Sound Design Roni Pillischer Nominated
Outstanding Debut Kokomo City Won
The Unforgettables Daniella Carter, Koko Da Doll, Liyah Mitchell and Dominique Silver Won
Black Reel Awards 16 January 2024 Outstanding Documentary Feature Kokomo City Nominated [43]
Outstanding Cinematography D. Smith Nominated
Outstanding Editing Nominated
Directors Guild of America Awards 10 February 2024 Outstanding Directing – Documentary Nominated [44]
Independent Spirit Awards 25 February 2024 Best Documentary Feature D. Smith, Bill Butler, Harris Doran Nominated [45]
Dorian Awards 26 February 2024 Documentary of the Year Kokomo City Won [46]
LGBTQ Documentary of the Year Won
GLAAD Media Awards 14 March 2024 Outstanding Documentary Won[b] [47]

Koko Da Doll

[edit]

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.[48][49] After her death, the film was dedicated to her.[26][50]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Tied with 20 Days in Mariupol.
  2. ^ Tied with Beyond the Aggressives: 25 Years Later and The Stroll.

References

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