Review of Loving (2016) by Dave C — 02 Mar 2017

Loving is, well, a rather lovely film. Director Jeff Nichols makes some interesting choices to steer around the historic court case rather than centring the story on it. What this affords us is an intimate look at the Lovings (Richard and Mildred) themselves, and it is their relationship that helps shed light on their civil rights case.

The Lovings live at a time when inter-racial marriage was outlawed in Virginia, and it was their case that ended up overturning the law as an unfortunate hold over from embattled time in America's history (the civil war). Having chosen to marry, the Lovings made the trek over the state border before returning again to their home in Virginia. They are eventually caught, and what ensues is not only a test of their love and life together, but an unveiling of the absurdity of the law itself (with the Lovings relationship providing a primary example of why the law was absurd).

What is most wonderful about Loving is that this is not a film about relational struggle. Rather it is about the depth of a bond that faces struggle together, even if they also see the struggle from slightly different angles. Richard struggles to see the bigger picture of the issue, as he just wants the attention to go away and to be able to live their lives in modesty and peace. Mildred seems to have a sense of what is at stake in the bigger picture, and so when she hears from an understated lawyer who has his sights on the Supreme Court, she is more than willing to embrace the larger profile of their story. Eventually, with Mildred's quiet confidence leading the way, they come to recognize what their story means together.

Nichols weaves a story that simply allows the characters to just be who they are. And in the midst of the struggle and the pain of being forced to live away from family and home, we find some quirky, sometimes strange, but always inspirational performances (notably Joel Edgarton as Richard) that are refreshingly undisciplined. I also really liked Nick Croll as Bernie, the small time lawyer who sees an opportunity not just to make a difference with the Lovings case, but to actually step into the Supreme Court and make a difference on a National level.

This is a perfect family film that sheds light on a piece of history that is as significant as it is unfamiliar. Sweet and endearing but also incredibly important. As mindboggling (as a reality) as it is believable. What is most shocking is just how recent this law was still in place.