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LOVING
A compelling 2016 docudrama that hits all the right notes is 2016's Loving, an effectively crafted look at a facet of racism that has almost been forgotten about because in this day and age it seems to be such a non-issue.
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The setting is 1950's rural Virginia where we meet Richard Loving (Joel Edgerton), a white bricklayer who has just learned that his black girlfriend, Mildred (Ruth Negga) is pregnant with his child. He is thrilled and immediately proposes and he, Mildred, and her father drive to DC where Richard and Mildred are married by a justice of the peace. Upon their return to Virginia, they are arrested for interracial marriage, which was still a crime back then. After one night, Richard is bailed out and we are horrified as he is told he can't bail out his pregnant wife and that her family has to come do it on Monday. Richard and Mildred are arrested again when Mildred insists that her mother-in-law (Sharon Blackwood), an experienced midwife, deliver her baby. They are sentenced to a year in jail, a sentence which is suspended if they agree to leave Virginia for 25 years. Richard and Mildred find peace in another state but Mildred's unassuming letter written to Bobby Kennedy sets off a series of events that lead to the ACLU taking their case to the supreme court.
Director/writer Jeff Nichols has provided an effectively balanced look at a once timely subject that really shouldn't be forgotten. It's such a non-issue in 2017 that this film was a bit of a culture shock, taking place at a time when interracial marriage was actually against the law. Can't argue with the events here, because it's based on real events and I was intrigued by some of the emotions this story stirred in me. At the core of this story were two people who were deeply in love and never wanted to be media darlings, they just wanted to walk in the sun as an interracial couple and that never changes. Their love for each other is evident and we know this because they do have two more children.
It's all of the people in their orbit whose behavior is at times questionable here. I had a bit of a hard time believing that Mildred's family accepted Richard in Mildred's life so unconditionally, even after their arrest. Even the motives of the ACLU don't always appear clear and there are points in this story we just want all these people to go away and just leave the Lovings alone, especially after the road to the supreme court is on the horizon and it seems to be pulling the couple apart.
The story is told at a leisurely pace but we want to see the ending, as unsurprising as it might be, this story demands that we see it. The film also features lovely cinematography and music and lovely performances from the leads. Edgerton is solid as Richard and Ruth Negga is absolutely luminous in a performance that earned her an Oscar nomination.
Negga's beautifully expressive face helped us understand what Mildred was feeling every second of this compelling story. A very special look at a topic that is not as timely as it should be.
A compelling 2016 docudrama that hits all the right notes is 2016's Loving, an effectively crafted look at a facet of racism that has almost been forgotten about because in this day and age it seems to be such a non-issue.
The setting is 1950's rural Virginia where we meet Richard Loving (Joel Edgerton), a white bricklayer who has just learned that his black girlfriend, Mildred (Ruth Negga) is pregnant with his child. He is thrilled and immediately proposes and he, Mildred, and her father drive to DC where Richard and Mildred are married by a justice of the peace. Upon their return to Virginia, they are arrested for interracial marriage, which was still a crime back then. After one night, Richard is bailed out and we are horrified as he is told he can't bail out his pregnant wife and that her family has to come do it on Monday. Richard and Mildred are arrested again when Mildred insists that her mother-in-law (Sharon Blackwood), an experienced midwife, deliver her baby. They are sentenced to a year in jail, a sentence which is suspended if they agree to leave Virginia for 25 years. Richard and Mildred find peace in another state but Mildred's unassuming letter written to Bobby Kennedy sets off a series of events that lead to the ACLU taking their case to the supreme court.
Director/writer Jeff Nichols has provided an effectively balanced look at a once timely subject that really shouldn't be forgotten. It's such a non-issue in 2017 that this film was a bit of a culture shock, taking place at a time when interracial marriage was actually against the law. Can't argue with the events here, because it's based on real events and I was intrigued by some of the emotions this story stirred in me. At the core of this story were two people who were deeply in love and never wanted to be media darlings, they just wanted to walk in the sun as an interracial couple and that never changes. Their love for each other is evident and we know this because they do have two more children.
It's all of the people in their orbit whose behavior is at times questionable here. I had a bit of a hard time believing that Mildred's family accepted Richard in Mildred's life so unconditionally, even after their arrest. Even the motives of the ACLU don't always appear clear and there are points in this story we just want all these people to go away and just leave the Lovings alone, especially after the road to the supreme court is on the horizon and it seems to be pulling the couple apart.
The story is told at a leisurely pace but we want to see the ending, as unsurprising as it might be, this story demands that we see it. The film also features lovely cinematography and music and lovely performances from the leads. Edgerton is solid as Richard and Ruth Negga is absolutely luminous in a performance that earned her an Oscar nomination.
Negga's beautifully expressive face helped us understand what Mildred was feeling every second of this compelling story. A very special look at a topic that is not as timely as it should be.