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]

Power Alley
Theatrical release poster
PortugueseLevante
Directed byLillah Halla
Written byLillah Halla
María Elena Morán
Produced byClarissa Guarilha
Rafaella Costa
Louise Bellicaud
Claire Charles-Gervais
StarringAyomi Domenica Dias
CinematographyWilssa Esser
Edited byEva Randolph
Music byMaria Beraldo
Production
companies
Arissas
Manjericão Filmes
In Vivo Films
Cimarrón Cine
Release date
  • 23 September 2023 (2023-09-23) (Cannes)
Running time
99 minutes
CountriesBrazil
France
Uruguay
LanguagePortuguese

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

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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was made as an international coproduction of companies from Brazil, France and Uruguay after its initial funding was rescinded in a wave of politically-motivated arts cutbacks by the government of Jair Bolsonaro.[4]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

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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

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Awards and nominations

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Awards and nominations for Power Alley
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]

References

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  1. ^ Éric Lavallée, "That Time of the Month: Halla Offers Ringside Seats to the Courts – Both On and Off". Ioncinema, 23 May 2023.
  2. ^ David Katz, "Review: Power Alley". Cineuropa, 24 May 2023.
  3. ^ Wendy Ide, "‘Power Alley’: Cannes Review". Screen Daily, 23 May 2023.
  4. ^ Alex Denney, "Power Alley, a Furious Cannes Debut About Abortion in Brazil". AnOther, 6 June 2023.
  5. ^ Leo Barraclough, "Suspense-Filled Abortion Drama ‘Power Alley’ Boarded by M-Appeal Ahead of Cannes’ Critics’ Week Premiere". Variety, 25 April 2023.
  6. ^ Leo Barraclough, "Cannes Titles ‘Let Me Go,’ ‘Power Alley’ Secure Distribution in Multiple Territories". Variety, 4 October 2023.
  7. ^ Scott Roxborough, "Cannes Critics’ Week Unveils Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter, 17 April 2023.
  8. ^ Bałaga, Marta (27 May 2023). "'The Zone of Interest,' 'The Settlers' Score Fipresci Awards at Cannes". Variety. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  9. ^ Florian Ques (4 May 2023). "Festival de Cannes : voici les films en lice pour la Queer Palm 2023". Têtu (in French). Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  10. ^ Lemercier, Fabien (19 April 2023). "Three European filmmakers selected in competition for Cannes' Critics' Week". Cineuropa. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Programme 2023" (PDF) (in French). Critics' Week. p. 8. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  12. ^ Mabilon, Léa (15 May 2023). "Isabel Sandoval, jurée de la Queer Palm 2023 : "Être "queer", selon moi, c'est résister à la conformité"". Madame Figaro (in French). Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  13. ^ Colon, Tanguy (28 April 2023). "Cannes 2023 : Anaïs Demoustier présidera le jury de la Caméra d'Or". Boxoffice Pro (in French). Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Palmarès longs métrages 2023". nouveaucinema.ca (in French). Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  15. ^ De Marco, Camillo (18 March 2024). "Power Alley crowned the winner at the Bergamo Film Meeting". Cineuropa. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
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