Kokomo City dir. D. Smith (Audience NEXT Award Winner)

by Morgan Stone and Zac Bentz

Morgan: At just 73 minutes long, this documentary is able to capture so much with tact. From the first minutes, we’re introduced to Daniella Carter, who is a charismatic speaker and tells a story about a rendezvous with a man gone wrong, involving a gun, a tumble down the stairs, and a fast getaway in a car…but eventually resulted in them meeting up again. Kokomo City focuses on four subjects: Daniella Carter, Koko Da Doll, Liyah Mitchell, and Dominique Silver, discussing their relationship with sex work and identity. The official description of the film reads:

“Four Black transgender sex workers explore the dichotomy between the Black community and themselves while confronting issues long avoided.”

As the documentary goes on, it transforms into an incredibly intimate portrait of how these women feel and how they view their community. It’s hard to encapsulate the content of the documentary into the written word, as it presents so much. Each perspective on the Black trans experience is unique and thought-provoking, and their stories really carry the film, making you forget you are even watching a documentary.

In terms of filmmaking, what sticks out to me is the editing. There is never a dull moment, with Smith filling the film with tasteful b-roll and re-enactments of the stories the women tell. The film was released entirely in black and white, and that decision has a way of making the visuals even more intriguing. Adding to the engaging nature of the film was that it was shot incredibly well, with the composition of even the interview portions being interesting. I remember specifically a shot of one of the women sitting in a bathtub, only her face and shoulders visible, and being so candid that it felt like an intimate conversation. 

And to accompany it all, Smith selected an impeccable soundtrack that blends many genres into a tracklist that really worked to emphasize the segments.

Ultimately, what makes Kokomo City such a worthwhile watch is the documentary’s subjects. All the women are so charming, and their perspectives are so valuable in a world that often silences them. Not only was this incredibly informative and introspective, but it was also entertaining and made me wish there were another couple of hours for me to watch. It was a fantastic film, and I recommend seeking it out to watch!

Zac: D. Smith's phenomenal documentary hooks you RIGHT from its opening anecdote with its charismatic subjects, incredible soundtrack, and insanely stylish black and white photography. The B-roll and staged re-enactments of the countless stories and anecdotes shared are so engaging and well-thought out and their placements are absolutely STELLAR. This was the first thing we watched as part of the festival (before the arguable hell of watching four movies back-to-back over the course of a day without moving from the couch while also trying to schedule filming for our advanced filmmaking class made us sad and jaded), and it was such a perfect way to kick off this special experience. Its energy and masterfully curated soundtrack have such an infectious sense of joy, even throughout the stories that detail more harrowing experiences with sex work as a Black trans woman.

I also love how empathetic this is—there's no manipulative agenda, and it's not setting out to make you cry. It's just honest and trustful and truthful. Smith just sits back, rolls the camera, and lets these women say exactly what they need to say. Which really feels refreshing for a documentary like this. A great example of anchoring an overarching social issue in a focused, human perspective. And what an impeccable selection of subjects. Every last interview exudes charm, charisma, and a sense of safety, as each is shot in what seems to be their own homes, their own beds, their own trusted places of safety.

I loved this, and I'm so excited to see more from D. Smith!

Sienna: I also loved this film, but I don't have anything to say that hasn't been said already—except that I loved the soundtrack so much that I paused the credits to make myself a Spotify playlist of it. Really good stuff! I'll watch anything D. Smith makes forever.