LiME

LiME, is the writing-directing debut from Donta Storey. Following a young person of colour struggling to accept their place within a hostile society, LiME is full to the brim with social commentary and conversation on what it means to be a minority in society along with the power of acceptance and finding strength within.

The growth of LGBTQ cinema has rapidly expanded in recent years, notable highlights like Moonlight and Portrait of a Lady on Fire are two examples that are sweeping the industry on a larger cinematic scale, but what of the grassroots level? The mainstream circuit may be bringing the message to the masses, but the independent market is where its soul belongs, allowing the creation of intimate stories from all walks of life, with Storey’s addition proving to be an excellent example.  

Urian Ross’ performance as the troubled Deshawn is at the centre of the narrative, from whose perspective we see prevalent injustices come to fruition. His concerns are cleverly reflected in Christian Colwell’s shaky handheld camerawork, disrupting the cinematic grammar to mimic our protagonist’s inner turmoil. Nonetheless, it is Allana Barton’s heartfelt appearance as Ms Pat that translates the filmmakers' crucial message. 

Despite the presence of social rejection, Storey persistently highlights the sense of community within this run-down area of Compton. The audio-visual influence of Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight is brazenly evident, a bastion for the increased production of these crucial and compelling stories. 

While its focal performance appears undercooked due to the short running time the performers have to adapt a character, and the overarching metaphor can be a little heavy-handed, LiME remains a stellar urban anecdote championing the importance of self-acceptance, and Donta Storey is one to certainly watch out for in the future.

LiME will be released on 5/21/20 via urbanflixtv.com and is currently playing via Amazon Prime Video