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Loving: A heartfelt protrayal of interracial marriage
Image: Focus Features
The story of a marriage which ch hanged 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 Virgin nia Supreme Court Case of 1967, tells the story of an interracial couple who unla awfully 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 atte ention 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. Both the soundtrack and camera work are beau utiful. Each scene led effortlessly into the next, tied together with gorgeous soft strings throughout. The stunning cinematography complements the setting, costtumes 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. 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
Review: Toni Erdmann Surreal German comedy explor ring the complexities of a father-daughter relationship
This award-winning German comedy has conquered this year’s film season; having swept the European Film Awards for Best Film, Director, Screenwriter and the Best Actor awards for both of its two leads. Notably, director Maren Ade is the first woman in the Award’s history to win Best Director. And for good reason. This dark comedy is a layered exploration of the relationship between a wise cracking father and his high strung daughter. We are introduced to Winfried, a retired musicteacher and the father, as he is playing a prank on a delivery man, joking that a package contains mail bombs and ‘erotic products’. The joke falls flat on his victim and this comedy of awkwardness continues. Shortly after, we are introduced to his grown daughter Ines, just returning from Shanghai as a consultant for an oil company. The film follows the strained, complex and ultimately moving relationship between these
two. In a bid to understand his daughter, Winfried births Toni Erdmann. Toni is Winfried’s alter ego who allows him to enter his daughter’s life and the corporate world she is a part of. The sheer ridiculousness/ magnificence of Toni exposes the cracks in his daughter’s ‘fashionable’ life, as the film provides an interesting commentary of the hypocrisy and sexism of corporate success. Ia especially enjoyed Winfried use of a set of fake teeth. They appear frequently and for no reason. Their constant presence on screen means that, by the end of the 162 minutes, they are completely acceptable and admirable. At the start of the film, Winfried’s dog dies. Arguably, the whole film could be seen as how one man deals with the pain of canine death, adopting an alter ego as a coping mechanism for his unending grief. Ultimately, the film is a brilliant one, and if you can get past the subtitles I would definitely give it a watch. Olivia Raine
Image: Vox