Power Alley
| Power Alley | |
|---|---|
| Portuguese | Levante |
| Directed by | Lillah Halla |
| Written by | Lillah Halla María Elena Morán |
| Produced by | Clarissa Guarilha Rafaella Costa Louise Bellicaud Claire Charles-Gervais |
| Starring | Ayomi Domenica Dias |
| Cinematography | Wilssa Esser |
| Edited by | Eva Randolph |
| Music by | Maria Beraldo |
Production companies | Arissas Manjericão Filmes In Vivo Films Cimarrón Cine |
Release date |
|
Running time | 99 minutes |
| Countries | Brazil France Uruguay |
| Language | Portuguese |
Power Alley (Portuguese: Levante) is a drama film, directed by Lillah Halla and released in 2023.[1] The film centres on Sofia (Ayomi Domenica Dias), a 17-year-old volleyball player in Brazil who is on the verge of being offered an athletic scholarship, when she unexpectedly finds herself pregnant and must struggle to find a way to get an abortion in light of the political and legal situation in the country.[2]
The film also addresses secondary themes about the status of LGBTQ communities in Brazil; Sofia herself is dating one of her teammates, and her volleyball team includes LGBTQ teammates whose own struggles for equality are depicted alongside Sofia's struggle for reproductive choice.[3]
Its supporting cast includes Loro Bardot, Grace Passô, Gláucia Vandeveld, Rômulo Braga and Larissa Siqueira.
Production[edit]
Halla's feature debut, the film was made as an international coproduction of companies from Brazil, France and Uruguay after its initial funding was rescinded in a wave of politically-motivated arts cutbacks by the government of Jair Bolsonaro.[4]
Distribution[edit]
Ahead of its premiere, the film secured a sales deal with M-Appeal,[5] which announced numerous international distribution deals later in the year.[6]
The film premiered in the Critics' Week program at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival,[7] where it was the winner of the FIPRESCI Prize for Parallel Sections[8] and was in contention for the Queer Palm.[9]
At the 2023 Festival du nouveau cinéma in Canada, it was the winner of the inaugural Fierté Montréal prize for best LGBTQ-themed film in the festival lineup.
Reception[edit]
Awards and nominations[edit]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival | 25 May 2023 | Critics' Week Grand Prix | Lillah Halla | Nominated | [10] |
| 26 May 2023 | Queer Palm | Nominated | [11] | ||
| 27 May 2023 | Caméra d'Or | Nominated | [12] | ||
| FIPRESCI Prize for Parallel Sections | Won | ||||
| Festival du nouveau cinéma | 15 October 2023 | Prix Fierté Montréal | Lillah Halla and Maria Elena Morán | Won | [13] |
| Bergamo Film Meeting | March 18, 2024 | Grand Prix | Lillah Halla | Won | [14] |
References[edit]
- ^ Éric Lavallée, "That Time of the Month: Halla Offers Ringside Seats to the Courts – Both On and Off". Ioncinema, 23 May 2023.
- ^ David Katz, "Review: Power Alley". Cineuropa, 24 May 2023.
- ^ Wendy Ide, "‘Power Alley’: Cannes Review". Screen Daily, 23 May 2023.
- ^ Alex Denney, "Power Alley, a Furious Cannes Debut About Abortion in Brazil". AnOther, 6 June 2023.
- ^ Leo Barraclough, "Suspense-Filled Abortion Drama ‘Power Alley’ Boarded by M-Appeal Ahead of Cannes’ Critics’ Week Premiere". Variety, 25 April 2023.
- ^ Leo Barraclough, "Cannes Titles ‘Let Me Go,’ ‘Power Alley’ Secure Distribution in Multiple Territories". Variety, 4 October 2023.
- ^ Scott Roxborough, "Cannes Critics’ Week Unveils Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter, 17 April 2023.
- ^ Bałaga, Marta (27 May 2023). "'The Zone of Interest,' 'The Settlers' Score Fipresci Awards at Cannes". Variety. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ Florian Ques (4 May 2023). "Festival de Cannes : voici les films en lice pour la Queer Palm 2023". Têtu (in French). Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ Lemercier, Fabien (19 April 2023). "Three European filmmakers selected in competition for Cannes' Critics' Week". Cineuropa. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ Mabilon, Léa (15 May 2023). "Isabel Sandoval, jurée de la Queer Palm 2023 : "Être "queer", selon moi, c'est résister à la conformité"". Madame Figaro (in French). Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ Colon, Tanguy (28 April 2023). "Cannes 2023 : Anaïs Demoustier présidera le jury de la Caméra d'Or". Boxoffice Pro (in French). Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ "Palmarès longs métrages 2023". nouveaucinema.ca (in French). Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ De Marco, Camillo (18 March 2024). "Power Alley crowned the winner at the Bergamo Film Meeting". Cineuropa. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
External links[edit]
- Power Alley at IMDb
