Andrew Dosunmu’s last three feature films are downbeat, visually stunning portraits of struggling people in NYC. And they’ve all been darlings at Sundance, so a new movie from him is cause for excitement. Now, for Dosunmu’s latest film, he follows a gifted singer who struggles to hold onto her identity and integrity as she attempts to break into pop stardom.
READ MORE: Tribeca 2022 Festival Preview: 24 Films & TV Series To Watch
An homage to Black female powerhouse vocalists like Whitney Houston and Patti LeBelle, this ’80s period piece is a bracing look at art, its commercialism, and black and queer identity.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
A gifted young Black woman struggles to maintain her voice and identity after she’s offered a lucrative recording contract, setting off a fierce battle between her family, the label, and her closest friend to determine who will guide her as she makes the journey to become a star.
Gracie Marie Bradley leads the film’s ensemble cast as Beauty. The film also stars Giancarlo Esposito, Sharon Stone, Aleyse Shannon, Kyle Bary, and Michael Ward. “The Chi” and “Queen & Slim” writer Lena Waithe writes the script.
“Beauty” had its world premiere at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival last weekend, but it won’t take long for audiences to see it. The film hits Netflix at the end of the month.
Will “Beauty” be a mainstream breakout for Andrew Dosunmu? Find out when the film premieres on Netflix on June 29. Watch the trailer below.