Turin Film Festival: review of The Black Sea, a journey of the soul

The screening of The Black Sea, a new film in competition by American directors Crystal Moselle and Derrick B. Harden, was particularly intense at the 42nd Turin Film Festival. The directors were present in the theater to introduce the film and answer questions from the audience. A few minutes before the screening, Derrick B. Harden, co-director and protagonist of the film, addressed the spectators, saying: "This is a film made with heart, and those who don't have one should leave the theater." Amidst laughter from the audience, he explained that the film indeed talks about "heart", or more precisely, about the search for strong connections and, with them, the search for our place in the world. 

The protagonist Khalid, a young and enterprising guy from Brooklyn, decides to leave his job as a bartender and embark on a journey to Bulgaria to meet a woman he met on social media who had promised him money. Unfortunately, upon arriving in her country on the shores of the Black Sea (hence the film's title), he discovers that the woman has passed away, and with her, the illusions of easy money have vanished. To further complicate matters, Khalid, without money and nowhere to sleep, is also robbed of his bag and passport. 

He tries to contact his family and friends for help, but they refuse to lend him more money and solve his troubles once again. So what can a foreigner who doesn't speak Bulgarian, the only person of color within hundreds of kilometers, do without money and no prospects? Simple: approach life with optimism and face difficulties with an infectious smile. 

Little by little, despite language problems and the absence of connections, he interacts with anyone who can speak a minimum of English. This leads to a series of important encounters that will forever change his life. One of the most significant is with Ina, played by Irmena Chichikova, famous for her participation in "Secret Invasion" (2023) and "Touch Me Not" (2018). Ina runs a travel agency and helps Khalid in the first few days, forming a very strong friendship with him despite some initial misunderstandings. It is with her that he eventually opens a bar serving local specialties and matcha tea, which he was already a big consumer of in Brooklyn, while also performing in improbable rap music sessions. Thanks to this activity, Khalid manages to integrate into the community and earn enough money not only to support himself but also to repay all his debts to friends and relatives, who are finally proud of him for once. Has Khalid perhaps finally found his place in the world? 

The Courage to Change 

The idea for this film was born from a real trip made in 2022 when the director went to visit his producer Izabella Tzenkova in Bulgaria. Derrick B. Harden recounted that he was the only black man in the area, and all the inhabitants were very curious to meet him, thinking he was a rap artist. 

The film, born from an original idea and real events, is truly touching and well-acted. There are several points for reflection that accompany the spectators out of the theater and messages that can be grasped. Above all, having the courage to change if our daily life does not satisfy us and always maintaining a positive attitude towards situations, even the most difficult ones. The journey thus becomes a metaphor for the change that each of us can undertake to transform our lives.