Loving is based on a true story of an interracial couple Richard and Mildred Loving. They married in 1958 and although the interracial marriage was illegal in the state of Virginia they married in Washington DC. As they tried to make their family home in the law was against them. They were jailed and tried, only avoiding prison by the state banishing them. The Loving family relocated with their children to the inner city of Washington D.C. This film is the story of their struggle against the legal system and trying to get back to Virginia.
Loving – Review
Obviously, this movie is getting a lot of attention with the recent Oscar nominations. As a result, I wanted to see it, and I was not disappointed. The film sets up the two characters very well. Richard Loving is played by Joel Edgerton and I don’t know why he was not Oscar-nominated. It is a tough role to play and I thought he did a convincing job. Ruth Negga plays Mildred Loving and was nominated.
The movie captures the unfairness of something they felt was hurting no-one. They went and got married and only for they moved back to Virginia they would not have been arrested. Their struggle is long but with the assistance of a civil rights group they are able to get the case heard in court.
There is a real sense in the film that you get to see their life progress, their children grow and their hope sometimes fade. But, they never give up. There are some great performances and my initial view before seeing the film was that it might be rough going – it is not at all. It is simply a good story well told.
There was one section of the movie when the sheriff advises Richard Loving of his opinions on interracial marriage and what he would do to him if he came back. During this sequence, I could not understand one word of the sherries dialogue due to a very heavy, mumbled and ow southern accent, but I don’t think I missed much.
This story if it was shown last year would have been a look back at the way things were in America. Racial conflict, the division between races etc. However this year, with a so-called president in power, all this seems far too real. Sad to see these things raising their heads again.
If you are thinking of going to see this, do, its a really great movie.
Official Trailer – Loving
