Power Alley
2023 Brazilian film
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Power Alley (Portuguese: Levante) is a 2023 drama film co-written and directed by Lillah Halla.[1] The film centres on Sofia (Ayomi Domenica Dias), a 17-year-old volleyball player in Brazil who is on the verge of being offered an athletic scholarship, when she unexpectedly finds herself pregnant and must struggle to find a way to get an abortion in light of the political and legal situation in the country.[2]
María Elena Morán
Rafaella Costa
Louise Bellicaud
Claire Charles-Gervais
| Power Alley | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Portuguese | Levante |
| Directed by | Lillah Halla |
| Written by | Lillah Halla María Elena Morán |
| Produced by | Clarissa Guarilha Rafaella Costa Louise Bellicaud Claire Charles-Gervais |
| Starring | Ayomi Domenica Dias |
| Cinematography | Wilssa Esser |
| Edited by | Eva Randolph |
| Music by | Maria Beraldo |
Production companies | Arissas Manjericão Filmes In Vivo Films Cimarrón Cine |
Release date |
|
Running time | 99 minutes |
| Countries | Brazil France Uruguay |
| Language | Portuguese |
The film also addresses secondary themes about the status of LGBTQ communities in Brazil; Sofia herself is dating one of her teammates, and her volleyball team includes LGBTQ teammates whose own struggles for equality are depicted alongside Sofia's struggle for reproductive choice.[3]
Its supporting cast includes Loro Bardot, Grace Passô, Gláucia Vandeveld, Rômulo Braga and Larissa Siqueira.
Production
Halla's feature debut, the film was made as an international coproduction of companies from Brazil, France and Uruguay after its initial funding was rescinded in a wave of politically-motivated arts cutbacks by the government of Jair Bolsonaro.[4]
Distribution
Ahead of its premiere, the film secured a sales deal with M-Appeal,[5] which announced numerous international distribution deals later in the year.[6]
The film premiered in the Critics' Week program at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival,[7] where it was the winner of the FIPRESCI Prize for Parallel Sections[8] and was in contention for the Queer Palm.[9]
At the 2023 Festival du nouveau cinéma in Canada, it was the winner of the inaugural Fierté Montréal prize for best LGBTQ-themed film in the festival lineup.
Reception
Awards and nominations
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival | 24 May 2023 | Critics' Week Grand Prix | Lillah Halla | Nominated | [10][11] |
| 26 May 2023 | Queer Palm | Nominated | [12] | ||
| 27 May 2023 | Caméra d'Or | Nominated | [13] | ||
| FIPRESCI Prize for Parallel Sections | Won | ||||
| Festival du nouveau cinéma | 15 October 2023 | Prix Fierté Montréal | Lillah Halla and Maria Elena Morán | Won | [14] |
| Bergamo Film Meeting | March 18, 2024 | Grand Prix | Lillah Halla | Won | [15] |