If Beale Street Could Talk

Dir. Barry Jenkins | USA 2018 | 119 min | 15

Barry Jenkins follows up his Oscar-winning Moonlight with this beautiful romance based on the James Baldwin novel of the same name, nominated for 3 Oscars.

In 1970s Harlem, newly pregnant Tish (KiKi Layne) races against the clock to prove the innocence of her lover Fonny (Stephan James) when he is falsely accused of rape. As he awaits trial, Tish desperately tries to find justice while her mother (a heartbreaking performance by Regina King, who deservedly scooped a Golden Globe) must decide how far she will go to secure her daughter's future.

A ravishing, gorgeous film of great beauty (the production design, graceful cinematography and haunting score are all outstanding), this is an exquisite look at black dignity and, more importantly, a celebration of love: love between partners, love for children, love for family and friends. Tish and Fonny's story ultimately insists that even a world of corruption, prejudice and unfairness, love and dignity might - just might - prevail.

Tickets: £7.75 / £6.00 (inc. Poly Fund)