"Loving" is Touching and Heart-wrenching

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Loving (2016)
Set in the state of Virginia in 1958, Loving, explores the relationship (and subsequent court case) of interracial couple Richard and Mildred Loving. The film depicts their love for one another with simplicity, and frequently lapses into showing rather than telling as a method of communicating the passage of time and the sequence of events throughout its narrative. The historical accuracy, emotion behind the court case as they fight to legalize their love, and simple yet effective use of music all help propel this film as something to be viewed as a poignant and important piece of art which simultaneously serves as a reminder for America's darkest moments of racism.

The relationship of Richard and Mildred Loving is not one introduced with swooning strings and slow zooms as they realize the depth of their fantastically deep feelings for one another, but rather humbly with quiet and shy glances as crickets chirp in the background. The introductory scene alone sets the tone for Loving, it is a quiet and slow burn, much like the love Richard and Mildred shared, a love which was unspoken but simultaneously strong and devoted.

Color also plays a dominant role in Loving, not just in the racist viewpoints exhibited by the state of Virginia and the repulsive police who terrorize Mildred and her husband, but also in the way that the sequences presented outdoors are displayed in full bright lush greens with vibrant flicks of blue and red, while all scenes displayed inside closed doors are muted and even sad in their color scheme. The difference in color shows just how alive Richard and Mildred feel in the outdoors, in Virginia, in the homeland which consistently fights against recognizing their marriage and seems so desperate to keep the pair apart under the guise of their marriage somehow being unlawful.

The minimal nature of the soundtrack, which is entirely nonexistent at times, only further helps to propel the soft and subtle nature of the film as a whole, quietly pushing the narrative onward without rushing things or attempting to push the emotions the audience feels into something on par with an overemotional drama.

While Ruth Negga and Michael Shannon deliver absolutely phenomenal performances in their respective roles as Mildred Loving and Grey Villet, there are instances where Joel Edgerton's portrayal of Richard Loving does unintentionally leave something to be desired. While his role as the stoic husband attempting to defend his wife and simultaneously keep his emotions in check as their marriage is called into question is decent, it does leave something to be desired, and there are instances in which his portrayal of Richard Loving do leave the audience wondering if he's truly as upset by his circumstances as he should be (of course, this does leave room for the excuse that he is portraying an uneducated man who simply may not have the emotional intelligence to properly convey his feelings). Nick Kroll's performance is distracting and not particularly good, but not so bad as to ruin the film as a whole.

Despite its flaws, Loving is a beautiful and moving film, which I highly recommend you see during this holiday season. Loving is in theaters now.

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