There’s a new cinematic sensation on the horizon, and it’s one of the most beautiful, and most important films with a black cast in recent memory. Nicole Vassell gives you the scoop, ahead of its release
If Beale Street Could Talk has a lot riding on it. Being the first time that one of writer James Baldwin’s novels has been adapted for the big screen, as well as being director Barry Jenkins’ first film following his groundbreaking drama Moonlight in 2016, this film was guaranteed to have plenty of eyes on it. Happily, it’s another complete success, and it deserves all the praise it’s bound to get very soon.
Set in 1970s Harlem, the film tells the story of Tish (KiKi Layne) and Fonny (Stephan James), who, after growing up side-by-side, have recently fallen in love as young adults. With the support of Tish’s family, they’re on the verge of starting a new life together when tragedy strikes; Fonny is wrongfully accused of raping a woman, and thrown into jail before trial. As this happens, Tish discovers she is pregnant. Desperately hoping for Fonny to be released in time to meet his child, there’s a race against time to try to clear his name before Tish gives birth.
Admittedly, it’s a dark-sounding plot, and there are moments of real anguish throughout. However, the biggest takeaway is the satisfaction of watching the intense love shared between Tish and Fonny. It’s Black love in a way that I haven’t seen on screen before; passionate, while slow-building, it draws you in immediately, keeping you held in their bond long after the credits roll.
When executed poorly, romance on screen can be corny, or evoke the absolute opposite feelings in its audience. However, Jenkins’ direction, coupled with the brilliant base text of Baldwin’s novel, make this a real landmark moment in Black cinema. From the lingering shots of Tish and Fonny looking at each other with longing and a sense of home, to Nicholas Britell’s sumptuous and dense musical score, blending strings and horns to conjure up exactly how you’d imagine passion and fear to sound, If Beale Street Could Talk deserves to be a contender for some of the highest artistic accolades in film this year.
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Of course, being a film about Black people in the early 1970s in the States, the story is not free of struggle; but thankfully, it’s not because of their love. There’s no infidelity, no disrespect; they face the ills of the world together, arm in arm, and stay fiercely protective of each other. Ahead of the release next month, actors KiKi Layne and Stephan James attended an exclusive screening Q&A on the film in London. When Pride asked about the preparation that went into building their remarkable rapport, Layne admitted that while they didn’t have time to rehearse prior to getting to set, it was a mixture of dedication, vulnerability and trust in each other that made their performances such a success:
‘I think a big part of it just came from our commitment to the work,’ she began. ‘I think we recognised the most essential part of this story is the love that Tish and Fonny have for each other, and even though it’s definitely weird, coming into this with a complete stranger, I think we had a special respect, making sure that we were serving this work to the best of our ability. We were definitely willing to let some of our walls down a lot faster than most people might be used to, and just ready to be a lot more vulnerable.’
Outside of Tish and Fonny’s relationship, the sense of love in Beale Street permeates through all the characters, particularly with Tish’s family and the support they give to her while dealing with pregnancy and an unfairly incarcerated boyfriend. According to KiKi Layne, this came from the whole cast also allowing themselves to be vulnerable with each other:
‘We were really creating this genuine family, really being able to communicate and support each other. Where all of these people are coming around Tish, in the movie, that’s how people were coming around me, KiKi, as I was experiencing and learning all of these new things, so I think it just added to the truth of all of that love that you saw on the screen, between all of these characters, coming together and loving and supporting each other.’
I could write forever about how important it is to see images of Black women being supported, and cherished; but instead, I recommend you go to see this film and experience it for yourself. There’s something so powerful in the fact that she has her hair in a natural afro for much of the film, with very light makeup, if used at all. Tish is being loved as she is, and it’s a beautiful reminder that we don’t need to do anything more than be our raw selves to be worthy of dedicated appreciation.
With Lena Waithe-penned film Queen & Slim, starring Daniel Kaluuya and Jodie Turner-Smith, and sci-fi romance Hold Back the Stars with John Boyega and Letitia Wright both in production this year, it seems as if 2019 will be a major turning point for seeing Black people love each other on screen, with a mainstream release. Let’s hope it only goes up from here.
If Beale Street Could Talk is in UK cinemas from February 8th.
