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Premature

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1:58

Premature

Released Feb 21, 2020

1h 26m

Drama

Romance

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

55 Reviews

71%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

On a summer night in Harlem during her last months at home before starting college, 17-year-old poet Ayanna begins a summer romance with Isaiah, a music producer who has just moved to the city.

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Critics Consensus

Premature transcends its familiar trappings with sharp dialogue and a strong sense of setting that further establish Rashaad Ernesto Green as a gifted filmmaker.

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Ann Hornaday

Washington Post

"Premature" is a delicious slow-burn of a movie, the kind of coming-of-age tale that looks familiar on the surface only to reveal hidden depths of beauty and meaning.

Feb 27, 2020

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

Rashaad Ernesto Green's poignant coming-of-age drama reflects his fruitful collaboration with Zora Howard, who wrote the script with him and also stars as Ayanna, a high-school senior in Harlem who is preparing to leave for college.

Feb 24, 2020

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Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (LAist)

It truly is an independent film in all the best possible ways: in the authenticity of it, the sense of place, in the fact that you feel like you're watching true people figuring out their lives.

Feb 22, 2020

Full Review

Michael Dequina

TheMovieReport.com

The beats may be familiar here, but the music, so to speak, is fresh and engrossing.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 31, 2021

Full Review

Bianca Garner

Next Best Picture

Zora Howard and Joshua Boone deliver excellent performances and it's a well-written script by Rashaad Ernesto Green and Howard.

Rated: 8/10

May 5, 2021

Full Review

Cate Marquis

AWFJ.org

Premature is the best kind of indie film, filled with raw emotion, honest and human portraits of life, and strong acting from a young, talented cast.

Feb 21, 2021

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Kima B

I absolutely loved this movie! What great acting! I felt every emotion and need more.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/24

Full Review

Audience Member

Premature was a slow burn, which is fairly surprising given it's 80-minute run time. Despite being possibly light on material, the movie is gorgeously filmed and acted, with performances so genuine you ache right along with the characters when they hurt. Occasionally the dialogue is a little formal, especially for teenagers, but it's fairly easy to accept given the precocious and somber mood of the film. I wish director Rashaad Ernesto Green was able to incorporate the artistic passions of his two main characters to be more strongly tied to the movie's themes, rather than just a plot device to draw them together in the beginning.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

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Audience Member

The first love never forgets. Excellent movie that talks about the maturity of people. for some things we are very mature but not for others. It is difficult to keep a balance in your life.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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Audience Member

It was pure, real and raw.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A finely depicted take on young black love in the Summer. The script flows like water, the performances are top tier and the tone is kept rich by its poetic-indebted nature. I was brought to tears multiple times, so emotionally it will tug at your heart. Feels good to see black love, no matter how it ends.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great movie romance with a dose of reality. One song lyric said: I'm too young to act this old.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

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Zora Howard

Ayanna

Joshua Boone

Isaiah

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Premature: Trailer 1

1:58

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Synopsis

On a summer night in Harlem during her last months at home before starting college, 17-year-old poet Ayanna begins a summer romance with Isaiah, a music producer who has just moved to the city.

Director: Rashaad Ernesto Green
Producer: Darren Dean, Joy Ganes, Rashaad Ernesto Green
Screenwriter: Rashaad Ernesto Green, Zora Howard
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Relic Pictures, Astute Films
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 21, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 27, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $22.9K
Runtime: 1h 26m

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