PREMATURE review by Gerald Wright

Directed by: Rashaad Ernesto Green

Running time: 86 minutes

Release date: February 21, 2020 Prime Video Streaming

Genre: Drama, Romance, Coming of Age, and Arthouse

Distributor: IFC Films

MPAA Rating: Not rated

In a film co-written by director Green and lead actress Zora Howard comes a story of a young African-American woman finding herself on the precipice of adulthood as she navigates her way through the highs and lows of a life-changing summer romance in Harlem, New York.

Set against the backdrop of a changing Harlem landscape, it all begins on a summer night in the uptown Manhattan community during her last months at home before starting college, a seventeen-year-old poet Ayanna (Zora Howard) meets Isaiah (Joshua Boone), a charming music producer who has just moved to the city.  It is not long before these two artistic souls are drawn together in a passionate summer romance.  However, this is not to be categorized as a simple romantic young love story, where affairs of the heart that center on just passion, emotion, and the romantic, affectionate involvement of the main characters, and the journey that their love takes through courtship.

This is a serious, plot-driven presentation, portraying realistic African-American characters and life situations.  It is a story depicting the natural order of uptown New York City, with its atmosphere and personalities.  This is a breakthrough performance by Zora Howard, a Harlem-bred multidisciplinary creator and performer.  Her poise and formidable engagement to the camera is sensational.  The contemporary stories involving intense character development and interaction of the youth in the uptown community setting is genuine, as the plot evolves around the mysterious outsider and Ayanna.  Her entire world is turned upside down on her path towards self-discovery as she travails the rigorous terrain of young love the summer before she leaves for college.

The dialogue is realistic and raw, which gives credibility to each character in the cast.  Their performances are sensational and is a great addition to an impeccable script exploring love, Black America, single mothers, and a mother daughter relationship.  Using Harlem as a backdrop, naturally ignites the pacing and rhythm, along with a great jazzy music score - it sets a unique tone.

This is a very good romantic coming-of-age dramatic narrative capturing a glimpse of intellectual and artistic black youth searching for eternal truth, with the life journey of confusion along the way.

FILM RATING (A+)