Cicada (film)

Cicada is a 2020 American film directed by Matthew Fifer and Kieran Mulcare.[2] Fifer co-wrote the film with Sheldon D. Brown, both of whom starred in leading roles. [3][4]

Cicada
Film poster
Directed byMatthew Fifer
Produced byJeremy Truong
Ramfis Myrthil
StarringMatthew Fifer
Sheldon Brown
Sandra Bauleo
Jazmin Grimaldi
Cobie Smulders
Scott Adsit
Michael Potts
David Burtka
Jo Firestone
Jason “Freckle” Greene
Music byGil Talmi
CinematographyEric Schleicher
Edited byKyle Sims
Matthew Fifer
Release date
  • August 22, 2020 (2020-08-22) (Outfest)
Running time
93 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States

The film premiered at the LGBTQI+ Film Festival in London on March 18th, 2020, but did not screen. It officially premiered and screened at the Outfest Film Festival on August 22, 2020.

Synopsis

Ben spends his days living in Brooklyn and taking on a series of odd jobs while at night he has meaningless one night stands that leave him feeling empty inside. He suffers from hypochondria and has a set routine that he frequently goes through with his physician Dr. Dragone. Ben's life takes on new meaning when he meets Sam, a data analyst, while browsing for books. They quickly grow very close to each other, each admitting personal secrets that they had never really told to anyone else before. Ben comes forward about his childhood sexual abuse and PTSD from being shot years before while Sam admits that he hasn't come out yet to his extremely religious father. As the two grow closer still, they soon realize that each must come to terms with their traumas if the relationship is to survive.[5]

Cast
  • Matt Fifer as Ben
  • Sheldon D. Brown as Sam
  • Sandra Bauleo as Debbie
  • Jazmin Grace Grimaldi as Amber
  • Cobie Smulders as Sophie
  • Scott Adsit as Dr. Dragone
  • Michael Potts as Francis
  • David Burtka as Bo
  • Jo Firestone as Tracy
  • Jason Greene as Theresa

Production

Fifer wrote the script based upon his own life experiences.[6]

Cicada was developed with the support of Tribeca's TFI Network, and was produced by Ramfis Myrthil of Beast of the East Productions and Jeremey Truong.[7]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the LGBTQI+ Film Festival in London on March 18th, 2020, but did not screen. [8] It officially premiered and screened in the United States at the Outfest Film Festival on August 22, 2020.

Reception

Critical reception for Cicada has been positive and the movie holds a rating of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 21 reviews.[9][10]

Variety's Guy Lodge reviewed Cicada, stating that it was an "untidy but beguiling study of two Brooklyn men negotiating romance and trauma".[11] The Hollywood Reporter praised the film's characters while also writing that the "stylistic leaps can also be overdone and vague".[12]

Awards
  • Audience Award at Image+Nation (2020, won)
  • Jury Prize at LesGaiCineMad, Madrid International LGBT Film Festival
  • Honorable Mention in Narrative Feature at NewFest: New York's LGBT Film Festival
  • 2nd Place for Jury Prize in Best Feature at OUTshine Film Festival
  • Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at Oslo/Fusion International Film Festival
  • Jury Award for Best Feature Film at Out Film CT [13]

References
  1. "CICADA (15)". Outfest. Outfest. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  2. "This year's BFI Flare line-up has been announced – and it's a doozy (15)". Time Out. Time Out. February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  3. "Outfest Los Angeles Sets 'The Obituary of Tunde Johnson', 'Monsoon', 'Two Eyes' And More For Virtual LGBTQ Film Fest (15)". Deadline. Deadline. August 20, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  4. Rosser, Michael. "LGBTQ+ drama 'Cicada' acquired for UK-Ireland distribution". Screen Daily. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  5. "BFI ANNOUNCES SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AT 34TH EDITION OF BFI FLARE: LONDON LGBTIQ+ FILM FESTIVAL". Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  6. "Special Presentations announced for 34th edition of BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival". Bfi.org. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  7. "BFI Flare Press Release". Dreamcage. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  8. "BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival announces opening and closing films". Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  9. "Cicada". Rotten Tomatoes.
  10. Lattanzio, Ryan (September 1, 2020). "'Cicada' Review: Matt Fifer's Outfest Entry Is a Sexy and Searing Act of Gay Self-Analysis". IndieWire. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  11. Lodge, Guy (October 16, 2020). "'Cicada' Review: The Pain and Poetry of Being Young, Queer, Troubled and In Love". Variety. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  12. "'Cicada': Film Review". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  13. "'Cicada'".
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