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The Loving Story


The Loving Story (2011)
Director: Nancy Buirski
Writers: Nancy Buirski, Susie Ruth Powell
Length: 77 minutes
Genre: Documentary, Drama, History

A well made documentary by HBO about Richard and Mildred Loving an interracial married couple who was arrested for being married in D.C. in 1958. Upon returning to their home state of Virginia, they were arrested and jailed...the crime, interracial marriage. They were given a suspended 1 year jail sentence and ordered by the court to leave the state of Virginia. They were not allowed to return together, under penalty of a stiff jail sentence.



Richard Loving and his wife Mildred Loving.

This sounds like fiction, but it's a true story, and it took place from the late 1950s all the way up tell 1967. The film follows the Loving's, and their lawyers, attempts to appeal this landmark case that eventually went all the way to the Supreme Court. That ruling changed the foundation of equality and civil rights laws.

This is a no frills documentary, there's no cheesy reenactments, no fancy CG, no gimmicks..and I found that refreshing. We see the actual film footage of the Loving's, both at home with their children and being interviewed by various journalist. We get to know the couple and see what the were like. The two ACLU lawyers who took on their case are also interviewed as this was a huge national story. At the time this case was resolved, 26 states in America had anti interracial marriage laws.

I highly recommend this film as it's a very personal, human story, it's damn important...and it's the basis of the 2016 movie Loving. Which I reviewed here: Loving

In watching this documenary I developed an even deeper respect for the 2016 movie Loving, which I also recommend.

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