Set on the streets of Compton, a young Deshawn has an emotional roller coaster of a day. Deshawn is a person who has anxiety about a big tryout ahead. In addition to this, he also has to contend with a violent and misogynistic environment. Fearful and hopeful, Lime (2020) is a story about identity and individuality in a world where being yourself seems impossible.
Intercut with memories of pep talks from friends. Deshawn embarks on his audition. Written and directed by Donta Storey, this is effective in that it shows how much this moment means to Deshawn, while revealing a tendency to let low self esteem get the better of him. A real sense of the character and his world is depicted as he learns that there is goodness and compassion despite the bigotry.
A big change occurs in Deshawn before and after the tryout. Urian Ross, who plays Deshawn, gives a strong performance evoking the insecurity and fragility of the teenage ego. Ross’s performance brings out the authenticity of Deshawn’s fears and his pride as the character turns a corner on the way he sees himself
While at times, the story lends itself to a bit of melodrama, so does the life of a teenager. Lime is a coming of age story set in the early 2000’s, but the themes of the film are relevant in today’s culture that is always seen as more willing to accept differences in others. Lime takes it a step further and examines what happens when we discriminate against ourselves. Filled with innocence and hope, Lime is a story of learning to love oneself.
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