The story of a marriage which changed a nation, Loving  has picked up a few Oscar nods. Isabel Rushmer sits down and falls in love with this latest release…

Loving, based on the real life Loving vs Virginia Supreme Court Case of 1967, tells the story of an interracial couple who unlawfully married in the late 1950s. As a result of their nuptial, they are arrested and exiled from their home state for 25 years. Their marriage gained wide attention and eventually helped to overturn anti-miscegenation laws in America. Richard Loving (Joel Edgerton) is a bricklayer and a man of few words. His wife, Mildred (Ruth Negga) embodies grace and wisdom through her resilience and tenacity. Both actors give stellar performances, yet Negga steals the show with a modest yet powerful portrayal of her character, with rightly-deserved Oscar nominations as a result.

‘Negga steals the show with a modest yet powerful portrayal of her character, with rightly-deserved Oscar nominations as a result.’

Both the soundtrack and camera work are beautiful. Each scene led effortlessly into the next, tied together with gorgeous soft strings throughout. The stunning cinematography complements the setting, costumes and cars of the era. Yet it seems the director took care to avoid the civil rights movement happening on their doorstep in Washington, mirroring their desire to stay out of the limelight. This does not limit the sense of paranoia or concern hanging over the couple; they are constantly living in fear when they sneak back into Virginia. This film addresses the struggle of its protagonists with a level of restraint which is admirable. No one so much raises their voice in the face of adversity and hatred until they achieve victory. Though the content throughout is discrete, the sentiment is deafening.

‘The film is subtle, understated and brilliant.’

The film is subtle, understated and brilliant. Far from the mushy love stories that are filling up our Netflix feeds; the director has crafted Loving to reflect a raw, real and transparent love of two people who just happened to have different skin colours. I’m excited to see with what he can come up with next.

Isabel Rushmer

(Image courtesy of Focus Features)