Loving

LOVING

Director : Jeff Nichols

Year : 2017

Genre : Drama

Rating : ***1/2

In the wake of the #OscarsSoWhite controversy that dogged last years award season, there has been a wealth of films released this year that focus on the plight and courage of black people. First out of the gate here in the UK is 'Loving', Jeff Nichol's wonderfully low-key biographical drama about Richard and Mildred Loving, the American mixed race couple whose marriage and subsequent civil-rights court case challenged the state of Virginia's hideous anti-miscegenation laws.

Rising star Ruth Negga portrays Mildred and her Academy Award nominated performance is nothing short of wonderful - playing the timid yet unwavering Mildred with a delicacy and humility completely in tune with that of her real-life counterpart. The Best Actress category is already pretty crowded this season, with both Emma Stone and Natalie Portman vying for the hallowed gold statue but Negga delivers a superb performance that is equally worthy of praise and award recognition. Joel Edgerton, almost unrecognisable with bleached blonde hair and false teeth is also very good here as the sweet-natured Richard whose quietude and reserved nature sharply contrasts with the unprecedented situation he finds himself - even though, in my humble opinion, his work doesn't quite carry the same emotional heft as that of his scene-stealing co-star. Still, the chemistry between the two is very palpable and believable, allowing us to totally empathize with their terrible plight and ultimately celebrate when belated justice is finally served. 

As is the case with all of his genre-defying movies, director Nichols is deliberately quiet behind the scenes, never allowing auteuristic flair or overbearing musical accompaniment to overshadow his story and instead allows the wonderful performances and beautifully naturalistic dialogue to take centre stage. Like Richard and Mildred themselves, 'Loving' is understated, dignified and deeply private, never trying to make a difference. However in it's own subdued way, it shows us that there are no greater powers than love, compassion and understanding and, if used correctly, those powers can quite unexpectedly change the world.