Making its World Premiere at the SXSW Film Festival is The Black Sea, a cheeky low-fi dramedy about finding purpose and making big dreams happen in little places. The Wolfpack and Skate Kitchen filmmaker, Crystal Moselle, co-directs the feature with Derrick B Harden, the film’s lead actor who is also a musician, filmmaker, and barista (which sounds random but is relevant to the film). Set in Bulgaria with no script, non-actors, and a local crew, The Black Sea is a thoroughly engaging adventure film made even more sensational by its offscreen circumstances.

A Man Searches for Home

The Black Sea charts the zany story of one charismatic man’s search for home, literally and figuratively. Inspired by Derrick B. Harden’s real-life travels to Bulgaria, Khalid (Harden) struggles to make ends meet. Living in Brooklyn and having recently–and dramatically–resigned from his barista position at a local coffee shop, he is desperate to make a quick buck. After answering a Facebook ad from an older woman looking for “adult physical touch,” Khalid finds himself on a one-way flight to Bulgaria to meet his sugar mama. He encounters a problem once he arrives at her small island town. Khalid is met by the woman’s adult son who breaks the news that she died earlier that morning. Khalid is in shock; not only is he still broke, and notably the only Black man in town, but now he is broke and stuck in Bulgaria.

What transpires from here is a journey of self-discovery in this humble setting on the Black Sea. Khalid is the type of man who makes his own luck and doesn’t wait for things to come to him. His outgoing nature is mostly well-received by the local townspeople. They embrace his cultural differences, especially his love for hip-hop and matcha. Khalid may be penniless but his spirit is not broken. At first, he couldn’t wait to escape the island and return to what was familiar. As the days pass and Bulgaria continues to embrace him for who he is, Khalid rethinks where he truly considers “home.”

Similar Style to Crystal Moselle’s The Wolfpack

The sun-drenched visuals by cinematographer Jackson Hunt give The Black Sea a timeless quality. This perfectly complements the loose structure of the story. It is light and airy, almost bordering on docu-style filmmaking akin to Moselle’s own The Wolfpack. Aiding in this aesthetic is the contemporary soundtrack by Charles Moselle, which adds lusciousness and warmth to the picture.

Takeaway

The Black Sea is a little indie that makes a big statement. Crystal Moselle and Derrick B Harden work together to create a communal sense of creativity and execution. The story of The Black Sea is simple but the way in which it is told is an inspiring feat.