Port Authority is a 2019 drama film written and directed by Danielle Lessovitz. It stars Fionn Whitehead, Leyna Bloom, McCaul Lombardi and Louisa Krause. Martin Scorsese serves as an executive producer under his Sikelia Productions banner. It had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section on May 18, 2019. It was released in France on September 25, 2019, by ARP Selection, and was released in the United States on May 28, 2021, by Momentum Pictures.
| Port Authority | |
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 Official poster | |
| Directed by | Danielle Lessovitz |
| Written by | Danielle Lessovitz |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Jomo Fray |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Matthew Herbert |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 94 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | English |
| Box office | $61,744[1] |
Plot
editA 20-year-old Midwesterner arrives in New York City, and catches eyes with a young woman, leading to the two falling in love, and discovering that she is a trans woman.
Cast
edit- Fionn Whitehead as Paul
- Leyna Bloom as Wye
- McCaul Lombardi as Lee
- Devon Carpenter as Tekay
- Eddie Bloom as Eddie
- Louisa Krause as Sara
- Christopher Quarles as Mother McQueen
- Taliek Jeqon as Dante McQueen
Production
editIn October 2018, it was announced Fionn Whitehead, Leyna Bloom and McCaul Lombardi had joined the cast of the film, with Danielle Lessovitz directing from a screenplay she wrote. Martin Scorsese will serve as an executive producer under his Sikelia Productions banner, with MUBI serving as a producer.[2]
The film's title Port Authority refers to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, the arrival point of Paul in the film as he seeks a better life in New York;[3] Bloom said that this reflected her own journey from the Midwest to the station in the city at seventeen. Lessovitz also explained that the station is often a place of congregation and work for queer women of color in New York, as well as providing a sense of the transient because of the station's primary function.[4]
As well as being a black trans actress from the Midwest, Bloom is also a real-life drag ball house mother.[5]
Release
editThe film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section on May 18, 2019.[6][7] It was released in France on September 25, 2019, by ARP Selection.[8] It was released in the United States on May 28, 2021, by Momentum Pictures.[9][10]
Reception
editPort Authority holds an 84% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 43 reviews, with an average of 6.5/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Although Port Authority frustrates with its inaccurate portrayal of the culture it attempts to represent, it remains an absorbing and well-acted drama."[11] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 61 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[12]
Accolades
edit| Year | Awards | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Cannes Film Festival | Un Certain Regard | Port Authority | Nominated | [citation needed][13] |
| Caméra d'Or | Danielle Lessovitz | Nominated | [14] | ||
| Queer Palm | Port Authority | Nominated | [15] | ||
| 2022 | GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Film – Limited Release | Port Authority | Nominated | [16] |
References
edit- ^ "Port Authority". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (October 19, 2018). "Martin Scorsese's Sikelia & RT Features Wrap 'Port Authority' With 'Dunkirk' Star Fionn Whitehead, MUBI's First Production". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ Pond, Steve (May 18, 2019). "'Port Authority' Film Review: Searching for Family in New York's LGBT Ball Scene". TheWrap. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
- ^ Hyams, Rosslyn (September 25, 2019). "Cinefile September 2019 - Port Authority, Du Sable et du Feu". RFI. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
- ^ "Meet Leyna Bloom, First Trans Woman of Color to Lead a Cannes Premiere". Out. April 18, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
- ^ "The Screenings Guide 2019". May 9, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
- ^ "Cannes festival 2019: full list of films". The Guardian. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ^ "Port Authority". ARP Selection. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ "Port Authority". Film Ratings. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ "Port Authority". Angelika Film Center. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ "Port Authority (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ "Port Authority". Metacritic. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (May 17, 2019). "Port Authority: First Clip Of Kiki Ballroom Pic Produced By Martin Scorsese's Sikelia & Call Me By Your Name Outfit RT Features — Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ Lavallée, Eric (April 18, 2019). "2019 Cannes Film Festival: Balagov, Honoré, Dumont, Annie Silverstein & Monia Chokri in the Un Certain Regard". Ion Cinema. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ Richford, Rhonda (May 24, 2019). "Cannes: Portrait of a Lady on Fire Takes Queer Palm Prize". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
- ^ "The Nominees for the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards". GLAAD. January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
