Boots Riley's "I Love Boosters" Premieres at SXSW
Boots Riley's second feature film, "I Love Boosters," premiered at the 40th SXSW film and television festival in Austin, offering a satirical take on fashion consumerism and global capitalism. The film utilizes absurdist, surrealist, and magical realist elements to follow a trio of shoplifters who target a prominent fashion designer, ultimately sparking a broader movement.
Film Overview
"I Love Boosters" marks writer-director Boots Riley's first directorial and writing effort since his critically acclaimed 2018 film, "Sorry to Bother You." The new feature is categorized as a psychedelic, absurdist caper that expands its focus to critique themes related to capitalism and the search for meaningful activity in modern society.
Plot Synopsis
The narrative centers on The Velvet Gang, a trio of shoplifters comprising Corvette (Keke Palmer), Sade (Naomi Ackie), and Mariah (Taylour Paige). They engage in stealing designer goods from high-end stores and subsequently reselling them at discounted prices through a boosters store operated by Corvette, who is also an aspiring fashion designer.
Their actions bring them into direct conflict with fashion mogul Christie Smith (Demi Moore). Smith is depicted in the film as engaging in price gouging, stealing designs—specifically Corvette's "flappy pocket suit"—and causing worker illness in a Chinese factory due to a sawdust-like fabric used in her line.
The conflict escalates after Smith criticizes the protagonists and uses one of Corvette's designs. This leads the trio to plan a daring heist to steal Smith's entire inventory, an action that initiates a broader movement among retail and factory workers.
Cast and Characters
The film features a diverse and talented ensemble cast:
- Keke Palmer portrays Corvette, an aspiring fashion designer and the central figure in the shoplifting trio.
- Naomi Ackie plays Sade, a member of The Velvet Gang.
- Taylour Paige plays Mariah, the third member of the trio.
- Demi Moore appears as Christie Smith, the antagonist fashion designer and mogul.
- LaKeith Stanfield is featured as a serpent demon and a character with an additional agenda who shows interest in Corvette.
- Poppy Liu portrays Jianpu, a character with teleportation abilities who is part of Corvette's group.
- Don Cheadle makes a cameo appearance in a transformative role, characterized as a motivational speaker who operates a pyramid scheme.
- Eiza González plays a stoner punk retail worker who becomes an ally to the women and discusses time travel.
- Will Poulter is also among the supporting cast members.
Production Details and Visual Elements
"I Love Boosters" incorporates various surreal and fantastical elements throughout its narrative. These include corporate figures undergoing extreme transformations, a penthouse apartment set at a steep angle, and sci-fi components. Teleportation devices are depicted as aiding the protagonists in their daring heists.
For its visual effects, Riley opted for old-school techniques. The film utilizes claymation for sequences involving fashion minions and miniatures for a car chase scene set on a scaled model of San Francisco streets. Filming for "I Love Boosters" took place across locations in Atlanta and Louisville. The cast reportedly lived together in an Atlanta hotel for two and a half months during the production period.
Release Information
"I Love Boosters" has a running time of 1 hour and 45 minutes and is distributed by Neon. The film is scheduled for its theatrical release on May 22, 2026.