MR AND MRS LOVING
US, 1996, 95 minutes, Colour.
Timothy Hutton, Lela Rochon, Bill Nunn, Ruby Dee, Isaiah Washington, Corey Parker.
Directed by Richard Friedenberg.
Mr and Mrs Loving is based on a true story, a challenge to the laws of miscegenation in Virginia up till the '60s.
The film was executive-produced by its star Timothy Hutton, who obviously felt passionately about the interracial issues. Music is by Brandford Marsalis. Lela Rochon is very good and striking in the central role of Mrs Loving. The supporting cast of Bill Nunn, Ruby Dee and Isaiah Washington is very strong.
The film recreates the atmosphere of the '60s in Virginia, makes the transition to Washington and includes the march on Washington and Martin Luther King's speech. Lela Rochon portrays Mildred, "Bean", an inexperienced young woman who marries her childhood sweetheart and they find themselves arrested on their wedding night. In transferring to Washington, they find hardship and prejudice. The husband, white and poorly educated but a racer of stock cars, experiences something of the reversed prejudice. On hearing Martin Luther King's speech, Bean writes a letter to Robert Kennedy. The repercussions are that their case is investigated by a lawyer, and ultimately is brought to the Supreme Court, which alters the law and reverses the charge against the couple. In this sense they were pioneers for the development of civil rights.
1. The title, its ironies, the blacks and the whites in Centrepoint, Virginia? The anti-racial laws, the miscegenation and imprisonment? The challenge to these laws and the philosophy (and even religious belief) behind them?
2. The 1960s setting, the backblocks of Virginia, the slums of Washington, the march on Washington, the Supreme Court?
3. The atmosphere of the South, the towns, homes, poverty? Stock car racing? Washington, DC? The mood of the times, the musical score, songs?
4. The focus on Richard Loving, Timothy Hutton's screen presence and performance, racing the cars, his friendship with his black friends? The party, meeting Bean, inviting her out, getting dressed up, Bean's family receiving him? The warnings? Their friendship, the sexual relationship, her pregnancy? The decision to marry? It being forbidden in Virginia, and their going to Washington, DC?
5. Richard's strength of character, love for Bean? Bean as a strong young woman, her attitude towards her relationship to Richard, her love for him? Facing the reality of the pregnancy in a matter-of-fact way, the marriage, the celebration?
6. The arrest on their wedding night, handcuffed, in prison, Richard let out, Bean having to stay for a week and humiliated? Not informed? Going to the court, the lawyer and his tactics, the attitude of the judge, his lecture about God creating the separate races on different continents? The severe sentence, his suspending it but their having to leave Virginia and not return for 25 years? Their later return in desperation, the sheriff arresting them again, escorting them to the border? The second time his trying to do a deal, to annul the marriage? Richard's decision to start the car and leave Virginia?
7. Going to Washington, the restricted accommodation and Bean being rejected? Their finding a slum house? Richard and his work, with the racing cars? Bean and the neighbours, Blue and Sofia and the girls? Friendship, the discussion about civil rights? Her reading, listening, becoming more interested? The build-up on Martin Luther King, the march on Washington, Richard refusing to go, Bean staying and watching it, moved? The birth of their child? The importance of the child? Richard losing his job because it was presumed he went to the march? Bean getting the little boy to post the letters?
8. The return from Virginia? Bernie Cohen's visit, his explanation of the situation? The years passing? The two of them encouraged by his vision, their collaboration? Bean pregnant again, the three children? The evidence collected by Bernie Cohen? The presentation to the courts, his speech at the Supreme Court on civil rights and marriage? Bean and Richard not feeling able to go? Their being vindicated?
9. The decision of the Supreme Court, Bean and Richard returning home - and the final view of them going into the café to eat together?
10. The importance of this kind of story to remind Americans and people around the world of the injustices of white America's treatment of black African-Americans? The importance of Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement?
