ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE in the life of Billy Porter.

2022 has been a magical year for Billy Porter, from his scene-stealing Fairy Godmother in Cinderella to his award-winning work in Pose and his excellent best-selling biography Unprotected. Porter is leaving his mark in theater, film, fashion, literature, and music. Thus it is no surprise that his film directorial debut, ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE, is tight and sparkly and a harbinger of queer stories to come.

IMDB calls this film “A delightfully modern Gen Z coming-of-age story that follows Kelsa, a confident high school girl who is trans, as she navigates through senior year.” Kelsa (Eva Reign) is a successful blogger who has chronicled her transition - and her love of animals - for her subscribers, without her family or school knowing about her channel. The life at her school in Pittsburgh tracks with those of other teens in movies these days. Friendships and betrayals beget misunderstandings and lies. The material is standard fare with a twist.

The film's freshness comes from Abubakr Ali as Khal, the Muslim student who falls for Kelsa, even when they are mocked. Ali is perfect as a young man who defies his parents and heritage to fashion his life and love.

The two families provide challenges and humor, and the friends at school are a rainbow collection of teens, often in spectacular outfits.

Porter directs with confidence and pizazz. He even sings a song that gets flash mob choreography as credits roll. Will the woke mob criticize him for not being a trans artist who created this trans film? I hope not, as it is a ray of sunshine for this summer that needs all the joy we can get.