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In 2016, writer/director Barry Jenkins earned award season accolades for his film .nightsandweekends.com/articles/16/NW1600182.php>Moonlight—including an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and a nomination for Best Director. Now he’s poised for more acclaim with the powerful follow-up, If Beale Street Could Talk.
If Beale Street Could Talk tells the story of Tish (KiKi Layne) and Fonny (Stephan James), a young couple who grew up together in Harlem and ended up falling in love. But just as they’re starting to plan the rest of their lives together, Fonny is arrested for a crime that he didn’t commit. As Fonny suffers behind bars, Tish discovers that she’s pregnant—and she and both of their families work together, pooling their money, their time, and their connections, to try to bring Fonny back home.
From its moving story to its strong characters to its remarkable ensemble cast, If Beale Street Could Talk is the kind of film that you won’t soon forget. It’s beautifully filmed—playing with light and colors, shadows and reflections, and, as you would expect from its title, music—and it’s carefully and lovingly told. While it tells a heartbreaking tale of prejudice and injustice, its aim isn’t really to make a bold political statement—though it certainly makes its point. More than that, though, the film focuses on the relationships—on the families, the friends, and the beautiful love story, which follows the young couple’s relationship as it grows from a sweet childhood friendship into a bond that’s built on loyalty, care, and respect.
The film is populated with strong characters—especially the women in Tish’s family. Even though she’s just 19 years old, Tish doesn’t hesitate to stand up and fight to free the man she loves. She’s on her feet all day, working as a perfume girl in a department store, trying to earn the money to care for a baby and pay for Fonny’s legal fees. No matter how grueling—or emotionally exhausting—it may be, she never gives up. But it’s also clear where she gets this inner strength. Her mother and her sister share the same strength—and, together as a family, their determination in spite of the challenges is inspiring.
Moving and musical and sometimes even magical, If Beale Street Could Talk may not be an action-packed drama, but it’s certainly a captivating one. It’s easily one of the best films of the year—one to watch as award season continues.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
