A young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother and with few options for his future, decides to join the Marines, doing whatever it takes to succeed in a system that would cast him aside.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- 12 wins & 30 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Jeremy Pope | ... |
Ellis French
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| Gabrielle Union | ... |
Inez French
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| Bokeem Woodbine | ... |
Laws
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| Raúl Castillo | ... |
Rosales
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| McCaul Lombardi | ... |
Harvey
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| Nicholas Logan | ... |
Brooks
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| Eman Esfandi | ... |
Ismail
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| Aaron Dominguez | ... |
Castro
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| Aubrey Joseph | ... |
Boles
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| Andrew Kai | ... |
Label
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| Tyler Merritt | ... |
Shamus
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| Steve Mokate | ... |
Colonel Casey
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| Brad Napp | ... |
Graduation Officer
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Daniel Williamson | ... |
PMI
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| Wynn Reichert | ... |
Chaplain
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Reginald Murray | ... |
Veteran
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Chase Van Velkinburgh | ... |
Opioid Addict
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Eddie Plaza | ... |
Bam Bam
(as Eddie "Miggy" Plaza)
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Krystal LaBeija | ... |
Mya
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Alex Mugler | ... |
Kassandra
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Jackie Andrews | ... |
Homeless Veteran (uncredited)
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| Becky Boxer | ... |
Dettman's Wife (uncredited)
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| Dina Marie | ... |
House Mother (uncredited)
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Jered Meeks | ... |
Marine (uncredited)
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Stephen Thaxton | ... |
Drill Instructor (uncredited)
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Niquitta S. Wolfe | ... |
Graduation Attendee (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Elegance Bratton | ||
Written by
| Elegance Bratton | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Chester Algernal Gordon | ... | producer (produced by) (p.g.a.) |
| Elegance Bratton | ... | additional producer |
| Effie Brown | ... | producer (produced by) (p.g.a.) (as Effie T. Brown) |
| Chris Quintos Cathcart | ... | executive producer (as Chris Quintos) |
| Kim Coleman | ... | executive producer |
| Artisha Mann Cooper | ... | line producer |
| Nina Sing Fialkow | ... | executive producer (as Nina Fialkow) |
| Steven Fine | ... | co-producer |
| Jason Korstad | ... | line producer |
| Adam Lewis | ... | executive producer |
| Melony Lewis | ... | executive producer |
| David Paradice | ... | executive producer |
| Regina K. Scully | ... | executive producer (as Regina Scully) |
| Holly Shakoor Fleischer | ... | executive producer |
| Valerie Steinberg | ... | executive producer |
| Gabrielle Union | ... | executive producer |
| Angela White | ... | line producer |
| Jennifer Wilson | ... | executive producer |
| Jamie Wolf | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Animal Collective | ||
Cinematography by
| Mark Jeevaratnam | ||
| Lachlan Milne | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Oriana Soddu | ||
Editorial Department
| Noah Benezra | ... | first assistant editor |
| Adam Dicterow | ... | assistant editor |
| Zack Eddy | ... | assistant editor |
| Scott Ettin | ... | data manager |
| Keith Jared Hollingsworth | ... | assistant editor |
| Nat Jencks | ... | colorist |
| Caspar Newbolt | ... | title designer |
| Pete Olshansky | ... | account executive |
| Kristan Sprague | ... | additional editor |
| Tom Younghans | ... | finishing artist |
| Julian Doan | ... | additional assistant editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Kim Coleman | ||
Production Design by
| Tommy Love | ||
| Erik Louis Robert | ||
Art Direction by
| Juli Kunke | ||
| Bryan Norvelle | ||
| Daniel Ornitz | ... | assistant art director |
Set Decoration by
| Dustin Brantley | ||
| Madelaine Frezza | ||
Costume Design by
| Fernando Rodriguez | ||
Makeup Department
| DaRico Jackson | ... | hair department head |
| Charlotte Orlove | ... | makeup artist |
| Amanda Pepin | ... | makeup department head |
| Ren Rohling | ... | key makeup artist / personal makeup artist: Ms. Union |
| Nadia Turner | ... | key hair stylist |
| Natalie Young | ... | makeup department head |
Production Management
| Tessa Byford | ... | production supervisor |
| Matt Copley | ... | unit production manager |
| Danny Hulsey | ... | unit production manager |
| Luke Pastor | ... | production supervisor |
| Justin Scutieri | ... | post-production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Hilton Jamal Day | ... | first assistant director (as Hilton J. Day) |
| Jeff Dubray | ... | first assistant director |
| Jeremiah Kelleher | ... | second second assistant director |
| Dominic Martin | ... | second assistant director |
| Deighton McCoy | ... | second second assistant director |
| Carlos A Velasco | ... | first assistant director: second unit (as Carlos Velasco) / second assistant director (as Carlos Velasco) |
| Ibrahim Yilla | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Scott Andersen | ... | carpenter |
| E. Sterling Anderson | ... | set painter |
| Azahn Billins | ... | assistant property master: re-shoot |
| Bryan W. Carpenter | ... | armorer |
| Jonathan Dossman | ... | property master |
| Roger W. Evans | ... | propmaker |
| Richard Forrest | ... | propmaker |
| Allison Furr-Lawyer | ... | lead painter |
| Jessica Keli Govea | ... | assistant property master |
| Chris Hale | ... | gangboss |
| Jasmine Alexia Jackson | ... | storyboard artist |
| Peter Kelly | ... | carpenter |
| Jacob Kirkwood | ... | carpenter |
| Scott Nivens | ... | leadman |
| Lauren Renae Parkinson | ... | art department production assistant |
| E. Colleen Saro | ... | property master |
| Ramsey Scott | ... | art department coordinator |
| Craig Serody | ... | on-set dresser |
| John Suggs | ... | construction coordinator |
| Celeste Von Ahnen | ... | propmaker |
| Zelda Vyssotsky | ... | graphic designer |
| Bobby Williamson | ... | construction gangboss |
Sound Department
| Coll Anderson | ... | re-recording mixer / supervising sound editor |
| Matt Bartholomew | ... | boom operator |
| Duncan Clark | ... | dialogue editor |
| Josh Gerson | ... | boom operator |
| Katrina Henson | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Kelly Hrebenak | ... | project manager |
| Michael David Johnson | ... | utility sound technician |
| Anna Khromova | ... | boom operator |
| Rae King | ... | mix assistant |
| Christopher Koch | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Max Osadchenko | ... | sound mixer |
| James David Redding III | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Aleksandra Stojanovic | ... | foley artist |
Special Effects by
| Zackary Monroe Keeler | ... | special effects (as Zack Keeler) |
Visual Effects by
| Ashim Ahuja | ... | visual effects producer |
| Tahira Ali | ... | visual effects artist |
| Britt Burke | ... | visual effects coordinator (as Brittney Burke) |
| Justin Giritlian | ... | visual effects producer |
| Francisco Moncayo Moreno | ... | visual effects lighting & rendering artist |
| Mark Mower | ... | visual effects executive producer |
| Nicolaus Waetjen | ... | visual effects supervisor |
| Nathan Weiner | ... | visual effects supervisor |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Mason Blair | ... | grip |
| Brenton Booth | ... | balloon light technician |
| Doug Bounds | ... | set electrician |
| Jihan Casquejo | ... | chief lighting technician: re-shoots |
| Austin Doyle | ... | gaffer |
| Raquel Estrada | ... | second assistant camera: New York City (as Raquel Estrad) |
| Thorne Hood | ... | second assistant camera: "b" camera |
| Douglas W. Johnson | ... | second assistant camera: "a" camera |
| Michael Kellum | ... | grip |
| Katrina Kinder | ... | second assistant camera: "a" camera |
| Andy Luce | ... | dolly grip: "a" camera |
| Beau Morrison | ... | dimmerboard operator |
| Jonathan Nicholas | ... | director of photography: second unit |
| Nick Nicolay | ... | key grip |
| Wesley O'Mary | ... | digital imaging technician |
| Nino Paternostro | ... | lighting technician |
| Jack Patterson | ... | grip |
| Patti Perret | ... | still photographer |
| Stéphane Renard | ... | first assistant camera: "a" camera |
| Bruce Lee Roberts III | ... | vtr playback operator |
| Edward Rashad Smith | ... | grip |
| Ben Spaner | ... | camera operator: "b" camera/steadicam operator |
| Jeremy Spring | ... | first assistant camera: "b" camera |
| Jim Wayer | ... | best boy grip |
Casting Department
| Cherelle Cargill | ... | adr voice casting |
| Zacharias Foppe | ... | background casting (as Zach Foppe) |
| Ryan Maharaj | ... | casting associate |
| Matthew Morgan | ... | casting director: Mississippi |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Merisha Gore | ... | wardrobe |
| Fernando Rodriguez | ... | costumer |
| Merissa Siggins | ... | set costumer |
Location Management
| Kilvin E. Griffin | ... | location assistant |
Music Department
| Animal Collective | ... | music |
| Missy Cohen | ... | music editor |
| Lightchild | ... | music editor |
| Katy McIlvaine | ... | music consultant |
| Sucheta Sachdev | ... | music editor |
Script and Continuity Department
| Martha Cary | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Erin Anderson | ... | adr loop group |
| Holly Andrews | ... | director's assistant (as Holly E. Andrews) |
| Max Balbuena | ... | truck production assistant |
| Matthew Bush | ... | production assistant |
| Ryan Cameron | ... | office production assistant |
| Nathaniel Carota | ... | post production accountant |
| Savey Cathey | ... | executive in charge of production |
| Mare'a Cobb | ... | production accountant |
| Semmi Cole | ... | key set production assistant |
| Jessica Cooper | ... | production coordinator |
| Stacey Davis | ... | production counsel |
| Angela Fortado | ... | craft service |
| Jessica Jazayeri | ... | assistant: Effie Brown |
| Lohn Lenoir | ... | production assistant |
| Jonathan McKinnon | ... | production assistant |
| Lauren Renae Parkinson | ... | key set production assistant |
| Corey Perez | ... | production coordinator: pre-production |
| Alexa Rozansky | ... | assistant to producer |
| Mason Runnels | ... | production assistant |
| Grace Santos | ... | production company executive: Gamechanger Films |
| Christine N. Smith | ... | health and safety supervisor |
| Gracie Smith | ... | craft service |
| Joy Jones Stingley | ... | production secretary |
| Natalie Teter | ... | covid-19 compliance |
| James Werner | ... | Director's Assistant |
| Taylor Whitehouse | ... | health & safety supervisor |
| Asger Hussain | ... | head of production: Gamechanger Films (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Howard Cohen | ... | special thanks |
| Geralyn White Dreyfous | ... | the producers wish to thank |
| Wendy Ettinger | ... | the producers wish to thank |
| Tony Gilroy | ... | special thanks |
| Inell C. Jones | ... | dedicatee |
| Spike Lee | ... | special thanks |
| Thomas J. Mangan IV | ... | special thanks |
| Gerry Pass | ... | special thanks |
| Brenda Robinson | ... | the producers wish to thank |
Production Companies
- A24 (presents)
- Gamechanger Films
- Freedom Principle (with)
- Oorah Productions (copyright holder)
- Enchantedblue Media
Distributors
- Empire Entertainment (2023) (South Africa) (theatrical)
- Paradiso Entertainment (2023) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Praesens-Film (2023) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
- Signature Entertainment (2023) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- X Verleih AG (2023) (Germany) (theatrical)
- A24 (2022) (United States)
- Alive Vertrieb und Marketing (2023) (Germany) (DVD)
- Cinemundo (2023) (Portugal)
- Roadshow Films (2023) (Australia)
- levelFILM (2022) (Canada)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Endcrawl.com (end titles made with)
- IndieClear (script clearance)
- King's Ransom Media (post-production)
- Project Indie Hope (production services)
- Road Rebel (production travel)
- Setkeeper (production office software)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In Elegance Bratton's inspirational and deeply moving retelling of his own story, a young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother and with few options for his future, decides to join the Marines, doing whatever it takes to succeed in a system that would cast him aside. But even as he battles deep-seated prejudice and the grueling routines of basic training, he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength, and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of belonging that will shape his identity and forever change his life. |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Inspired by Elegance Bratton's true story of being homeless for a decade after being kicked out of the house by his mother for being gay. When he joined the Marines, he needed to retrieve his birth certificate from his mother as depicted in the film. His mother passed away shortly after the film was greenlit but Gabrielle Union was allowed to wear some of her jewelry plus use the actual family Bible as a prop. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Multimedia Update (08/10/2023) - OWV is Back! (2023). See more » |
| Quotes |
Laws:
I will break you.. I promise. See more » |