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Asphalt City movie storyline. Asphalt City follows Ollie Cross (Tye Sheridan), a young paramedic assigned to the NYC night shift with an uncompromising and seasoned partner Gene Rutkovsky (Sean Penn). The dark nights reveal a city in crisis; Rutkovsky guides Cross, as each 911 call is often dangerous and uncertain, putting their lives on the line every day to help others. Cross soon discovers firsthand the chaos and awe of a job that careens from harrowing to heartfelt, testing his relationship with Rutkovsky and the ethical ambiguity that can be the difference between life and death.
Asphalt City (originally titled and released in some countries as Black Flies) is a 2023 American thriller drama film directed by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire and written by Ryan King and Ben Mac Brown, based on the 2008 novel Black Flies by Shannon Burke. It stars Sean Penn and Tye Sheridan as paramedics working in New York City. Gbenga Akinnagbe, Raquel Nave, Kali Reis, Michael Pitt, Katherine Waterston, and Mike Tyson appear in supporting roles.
The film had its world premiere as Black Flies at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2023, where it competed for the Palme d’Or. The film was originally set to be released in the United States by Open Road Films. In January 2024, Vertical and Roadside Attractions acquired North American rights to the film, which was renamed Asphalt City, and released it exclusively in theaters on March 29, 2024.
Directed by: Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire
Starring: Tye Sheridan, Michael Pitt, Sean Penn, Mike Tyson, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Raquel Nave, Katherine Waterston, Kali Reis, Ramon Aleman, Jagan Badvel, Shelly Burrell, Donna Glaesener
Screenplay by: Ryan King, Ben Mac Brown
Production Design by: Robert Pyzocha
Cinematography by: David Ungaro
Film Editing by: Saar Klein, Katherine McQuerrey
Costume Design by: Stacy Jansen
Set Decoration by: Johna Landi
Art Direction by: Allie Ayala
Music by: Nicolas Becker, Quentin Sirjacq
MPAA Rating: R for violent content, disturbing/bloody images, suicide, sexual content, graphic nudity, and pervasive language.
Distributed by: Roadside Attractions, Vertical Entertainment
Release Date: May 18, 2023 (Cannes), March 29, 2024 (United States)
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