If Beale Street Could Talk

If Beale Street could talk it would say one thing.

"This country does really not like n***a's man."

Ain't that the truth. Spoken by a Black man in early 70's Harlem and still the real deal nearly 50 years later. There's no point in soft soaping a fact.

Tish Rivers (Kiki Layne) and Fonny Hunt (Stephan James) have been friends forever and are now in love in early 70's New York City. Tish has just found out she's pregnant with Fonny's child and her mother and father, Sharon and Joseph, are delighted she's happy about it. Life should be perfect but it's far from it. Fonny's in prison for a crime he didn't commit and his family are blaming Tish for ruining him. Now Tish and her family must try and get him out of jail before his child arrives. But unfortunately, Fonny has the wrong skin colour in a country that will always see him as the enemy.

This was tough stuff. But also strangely beautiful. And upsetting. While being poetic. It's a tough one to describe. I really liked it though. Just like director Barry Jenkin's previous movie Moonlight it's a slow burner that takes a while to get going but before you can realise it it's under your skin, holding you down and making you care about the people in front of you. God I hate when film makes me feel things.......oh no, wait, I love it cos it's far too rare. When it makes you smile when the characters onscreen do, making you love them and their small hard earned successes before ripping it all away and enraging you with the horrible injustices they have to endure. This might be getting sold as a Valentine's Day love story but it's also a soulful diatribe against systemic racism and hate. 

Imagine not being able to do the simplest things without being constantly tripped up by bigotry. Finding a place to live without being turned away. Going shopping without harrassment. Even enjoying a drink with an old friend gets ruined when you get a glimpse of the terrors he's faced in the years since you've last seen him. Every facet of Tish and Fonny's being has been affected by hate but they still manage to find happiness beneath the horror of it all. Jenkins and cinematographer James Laxton use their camera to find little pockets of beauty amidst the ugliness of their world too. A warm smile in the middle of the street, a dramatic bathtub arrival, an simple but elegant camera pan around an empty warehouse. Small but beautiful snatches of happiness. Like life If Beale Street Could Talk is a series of peaks and troughs, though mostly troughs. For every shriek of fear you have a parent's joy. For every tearful goodbye you have a lovely rooftop understanding between members of 2 outcast tribes. It may all break your heart but it gives you just enough hope to keep you going. Just enough.

Regina King has been Oscar nominated for her role as Sharon, Tish's mother. She's great, I can't say I'm aggrieved about it but I'm just baffled that she's the only one who got a nod because everyone here plays their part perfectly. Kiki Layne and Stephan James are perfect as the star crossed lovers. A lovely fit torn apart. Your heart will bleed tears of rage for the pair of them. The brilliant Brian Tyree Henry is immense in a small role playing a character that's basically a microcosm of the African American experience. No ridiculous emoting, no hammy monologues. Saying more with his eyes and a swig of beer than far more famous actors could. His scene with Fonny could be lifted out of this and would make a powerful short film on its own, it's that good. Keep an eye out for Aunjanue Ellis too, as Fonny's religious mother Mrs Hunt. A truly nasty piece of work who'll stay in your head long after the credits roll. 

A beautiful, haunting, touching, terrifying and upsetting watch that still manages to be packed full of beauty and humanity. A perfectly crafted 2 hrs that might be set more than 4 decades in the past but one that still blazes with topicality. Highly recommended.