#CANNES: “BLACK FLIES” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

Sean Penn’s latest is one brutal look into the lives of paramedics in East New York. It follows Ollie (Tye Sheridan) a rookie on the job. At the scene of a shooting, Ollie meets veteran EMT Rut (Penn). From there the two become paired up for Ollie’s first year on the job. Leading to the young paramedic getting a crash course in lifesaving techniques while working with the grizzled New York City veteran.

Black Flies is a raw look at the daily working life of paramedics in Brooklyn. Director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire doesn’t spare us of just how brutal the job is. And the responsibility it carries — these people are carrying patients’ lives in their hands. It’s a tough and uncomfortable watch as it plays out like a Horror Film about a descent into hell. We watch three different paramedics at different points in their careers.

Ollie is at the very beginning and wants to save people’s lives. He’s shocked at the cruelty and inhumanity he sees every day. Sheridan, who also produces, turns in his greatest performance to date as an EMT attempting to maintain his morality while watching his colleagues lose theirs. There’s enough background given to Ollie that makes us invested in his journey. We hope he holds onto the light.

Rut has been at this for a long time and is at the point of snapping. Penn turns-in a captivating performance as a veteran paramedic who’s basically on his way out. He shows the audience the true struggle of making quick tough decisions. Then there’s Micheal C. Pitt’s character who has already snapped. He tells Ollie that they are the ones who play God as soon as the ambulance doors shut. Stating he decides who lives if he believes they are worthy of it.

Although it’s necessary to have a character who has already hit their breaking point, there are times this character feels like a distraction from the main purpose of the Film. Because Black Flies feels like its intention is to be a love letter to paramedics. The true heroes. Another distraction is the romantic storyline given to Ollie which doesn’t add anything substantial to the narrative.

Black Flies is a Film about the realities and the horror that Paramedics face every day and the mental toll the job takes.

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Black Flies screens at Cannes ’23:

Thu May 18 at 10:30PM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Fri May 19 at 11:30AM at LICORNE

Fri May 19 at 11:45AM at GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE

Fri May 19 at 2PM hat CINEUM IMAX

Sat May 20 at 1PM at CINEUM SCREEN X

Sun May 21 at 9PM at AGNÈS VARDA THEATRE

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