“Watch out for black flies, they’re the first to smell death.” These ominous words are spoken to rookie FDNY paramedic Ollie Cross as he enters an abandoned apartment swarming with the pesky insects. It’s a metaphor for the job of first responders like Ollie and his partner Gene Rutkowsky, who are constantly exposed to the harsh realities of life and death in Brooklyn’s rundown Brownsville neighborhood. Premiering in competition at Cannes, “Black Flies” stars Sean Penn as the grizzled veteran Rut and Tye Sheridan as the earnest Ollie. Together, they navigate the mean streets of New York City, encountering tough gang members, abused spouses, homeless individuals, and drug addicts. These are the people society has forgotten, and it’s up to Ollie and Rut to save them, even if it means fighting off their attackers.
French director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, a longtime Brooklyn resident, chose to film “Black Flies” for his English-language debut. His previous works, including “A Prayer Before Dawn” and “Johnny Mad Dog,” also explore the causes of violence and the plight of those left behind by America’s broken healthcare system. Sauvaire cites Scorsese, Ferrara, and Friedkin as inspirations, particularly the latter’s 1971 Oscar winner “The French Connection,” which was shot in many of the same locations as “Black Flies.”
While the film offers a series of harrowing calls, from a severely injured young Black man to a pregnant heroin user giving birth to a seemingly lifeless baby, it also takes time to explore the personal lives of Ollie and Rut. Ollie’s new girlfriend Raquel Nave provides a welcome respite from the job’s stress, while Rut struggles with the aftermath of 9/11. The actors, including Michael Carmen Pitt and Katherine Waterston, deliver strong performances, but the story arc for Penn’s character falls short. Despite its admirable intentions, “Black Flies” doesn’t quite soar, leaving viewers with a reminder of how screwed up America can be.
