Home / Arts and Entertainment / Pure: A Journey Through Black Cotillions and Identity
Pure: A Journey Through Black Cotillions and Identity
10 Apr
Summary
- New film 'Pure' explores Black cotillion culture in Maryland.
- Celeste navigates her identity amidst elite social debut.
- Features actresses Imani Lewis and Laya DeLeon Hayes.
Pure, the debut feature film from writer-director Natalie Jasmine Harris, is set to explore the nuanced world of Black cotillion culture in suburban Maryland. The film is an expansion of Harris's prior short, which garnered recognition and acquisition by HBO Max following its festival screenings.
At its heart, Pure is a coming-of-age narrative following Celeste, a 17-year-old slam poetry prodigy. Uprooted from her community in the Bay Area, Celeste finds herself in Maryland's elite Black suburbs, compelled to join a prestigious cotillion season. This journey forces her to confront her burgeoning queer identity as she prepares to debut into high society.
The project boasts a talented cast, with Imani Lewis, known for her role in Netflix's First Kill, and Laya DeLeon Hayes, recognized for her work on The Equalizer, attached to star. The film has received significant support from various development labs and financing forums, including Film Independent Fast Track and Outfest Screenwriting Lab.
