Premature (2019 film)

Premature is a 2019 American romantic drama film directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green and written by Green and Zora Howard. The film stars Howard and Joshua Boone. The plot follows a teenager who has a summer romance with an older man. It premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2019. Premature was released in theaters and on video on demand on February 21, 2020, by IFC Films.[3] The film received positive reviews from critics, and was assigned a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[4]

Premature
Official poster
Directed byRashaad Ernesto Green
Produced by
  • Joy Ganes
  • Rashaad Ernesto Green
  • Darren Dean
Written by
Starring
Music by
  • Patrick Cannell
  • Stefan Swanson
CinematographyLaura Valladao
Edited byJustin Chan
Production
companies
  • Mi Alma Films
  • Astute Films
  • Slice Entertainment Group
  • Relic Pictures
Distributed byIFC Films
Release date
  • January 27, 2019 (2019-01-27) (Sundance)
  • February 21, 2020 (2020-02-21) (United States)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$23,071[1][2]

Premise

IFC Films says in its official synopsis, "On a summer night in Harlem during her last months at home before starting college, seventeen-year-old poet Ayanna (Zora Howard) meets Isaiah (Joshua Boone), a charming music producer who has just moved to the city. It's not long before these two artistic souls are drawn together in a passionate summer romance. But as the highs of young love give way to jealousy, suspicion, and all-too-real consequences, Ayanna must confront the complexities of the adult world—whether she is ready or not."[3]

Cast

Production

Zora Howard co-wrote the film with director Rashaad Ernesto Green.[5] Premature is his second feature film. The director of photography is Laura Valladao.[6]

Critical reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes assigned the film an approval rating of 92%, based on 50 reviews; the average rating is 7.73/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Premature transcends its familiar trappings with sharp dialogue and a strong sense of setting that further establish Rashaad Ernesto Green as a gifted filmmaker."[4]

In a review for TheWrap, Candice Frederick stated, "The push and pull of Ayanna and Isaiah's relationship comes off naturally, thanks to Howard and Green's sensitive writing. That style carries over to Laura Valladao's equally raw cinematography, capturing the hot New York City summer from the almost dusty sidewalk pavements, to the fiery sunset over the park, and the intimacy of two vulnerable lovers in bed at night next to an open window."[7] Jon Frosch wrote of Howard's performance in a review for The Hollywood Reporter, "What keeps you invested is Howard, who makes her proud, steely character's every moment of vulnerability feel like a gift to both the audience and to Isaiah, who may not be worthy of her. It's a performance that builds gradually in power and radiance."[6]

References
  1. "Premature (2019)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  2. "Premature (2019)". The Numbers. Archived from the original on December 31, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  3. "Premature". ifcfilms.com. IFC Films. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  4. "Premature (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  5. Hipes, Patrick (May 14, 2019). "Sundance Pic 'Premature' Acquired By IFC Films". Deadline. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  6. "'Premature': Film Review | Sundance 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  7. "'Premature' Film Review: Summer Romance Captures Beauty, Heartbreak of First Love". TheWrap. January 27, 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
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