Derrick B. Harden is a star. The New York-based artist and rapper has done a few acting gigs here and there, but his leading turn in The Black Sea proves he’s been waiting for this moment.
And boy, did he pick a peculiar moment. Partnering with his real-life love Crystal Moselle, an accomplished and brilliant filmmaker, the two set out to make a film during the writer’s strike with not a single line of dialogue written down. Choosing to film in Bulgaria, they flew with a few members of productions with a simple synopsis in mind: a broke Black man heads to Bulgaria to collect a fortune from his sugar mamma only for her to die.
Playing the lead, Khalid, Harden wonders around this Bulgarian village looking for a purpose and money to head back home to the States, begging friends for money over FaceTime. He eventually meets Ina (Irmena Chichikova) a young travel agent willing to help him out. As they grow closer and start a business together, the town bully (Samuel Finzi), who is also the deceased sugar mama’s son, follows Khalid at every turn.
Harden is charming and commanding as Khalid, willing to bond with everyone he encounters. For a first-time actor, he certainly knows what he’s doing even if you don’t know what he’s going to do next.
If Harden is the heart and soul of The Black Sea, it’s clear co-director Crystal Moselle is the backbone. Able to reel him in, her ability to find an unplanned interesting moment or an emotional beat should be commended considering how this film was shot.
Moselle has made a name for herself by directing fish-out-of-water stories, whether it’s her 2015 documentary The Wolfpack about a group of sheltered brothers exploring New York City or her first narrative feature Skate Kitchen, about a young woman who finds community in the New York female skateboarding scene. The Black Sea is no different, but what I find captivating about her work is that she can capture a unique perspective in every story she tells. There’s an edgy and raw aspect to her filmmaking that feels authentic to the personalities she’s bolstering.
The Black Sea is shaggy and drags with unfocused anticipation about 60% of the way through. However, you always wait with bated breath to see where Harden and Moselle go. Script or no script — that’s a hard thing to do.
The Black Sea is now playing in select theaters. Watch the trailer below.
