Review of Loving (2016) by Mandela W — 10 Dec 2016

In this day and age with the new kind of racism that is going on in America, all the hate that's been occurring as of late a film like Loving is needed. A story of an interracial couple who dealt with serious racism when it came to their unusual marriage. Richard and Mildred loving are a couple that reminds us how love can trump hate (no pun intended by the way).

A white man Richard Loving and a black woman Mildred Jeter are a southern couple loving in Virginia living a peaceful normal life in 1958. They decide to go to DC to get married. One night thanks to an anonymous tip they are found out by the police and told their marriage is illegal and are sentenced to prison. However there actual prison sentence is suspended on the account they leave the state of Virginia. The big move takes a toll on them and the family and in the 6o's they finally decide to fight back against the law and they take the matter to the supreme court.

I cant believe I never heard of this story before its so incredible. This film not only shows the power love can have against injustices but also that back then race didn't mean anything to certain white folks people were people and race doesn't determine who your friends are or your lovers. In general we need more films like this because interracial marriages are very unusual and its interesting to learn how the party involve truly deals with it.

Powerful performances from the cast here. Ruth negga tackles this quiet but indearing soul very well and completely transforms into her with pure ease. Joel Edgerton is at his finest here. Like mildred he also has a quiet nature to him and doesn't go looking for trouble or attention. But he had no choice but to fight back along with his wife, an injustice that needed to be undone. Even marton coskas was great here! he played a stone cold, racist cop that had no distinct sense of compassion and was all about the law at the time. He really made me hate the character and when an actor does that you know they have nailed the character.

Jeff Nichols direction is very solid. He presents us this story of a regular interacial couple, in love who just wanted to live their lives in peace but then get bombared with the racist marriage laws of the time. He shows the strength they had to find to fight for their rights and its really great to watch. The film is so country too the shots of the field, the culture and all that make up Virginia was extraordinary.

Overall this was an exquistly adapted story that Nichols brought to life. So well done and a must see!