Kokomo City, or D. Smith's Intimate Portrait of Black Trans Sex Workers' Lives

The film's interviews are set in personal, bare settings, where the women candidly discuss their entry into sex work and the potential for violence from clients. Despite the tragic fate of Koko Da Doll, fatally shot after the Sundance Film Festival premiere, the documentary celebrates the resilience of its subjects. The trust between the interviewers and interviewees is very touching and palpable, offering respect to women often dehumanized in intimate settings.

Exploring the constant hypervigilance of trans sex workers due to potential threats from male clients, the documentary aims to expose the violence and intolerance they face daily. Amidst the challenges, the film suggests the possibility of escape from bigotry, showcasing moments of unapologetic attraction and love between men and trans women.

The women share unapologetic stories, revealing the harm they endure from strangers and within their own communities, emotionally stripping themselves bare for the cameras. The documentary refuses to conform to respectability politics, exploring internal prejudices within the Black trans community. The authentic conversations between D. Smith and her subjects, shot with a lived-in authenticity, avoid impersonal talking points, and personally made me tear up a few times.

"Kokomo City" doesn't shy away from the darkness but thankfully also highlights the joy, glamour, and music in the women's lives. The camera celebrates their agency, resisting dehumanizing gazes and empowering them to define their identities. "Kokomo City" weaves a compelling narrative of Black transgender sex workers, offering a nuanced exploration of their lives, struggles, and triumphs.

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