LOVING
US, 2016, 123 minutes, Colour.
Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga, Marton Csokas, Alano Miller, Bill Camp, Nick Kroll, David Jensen, Jon Bass, Michael Shannon, Matt Molloy.
Directed by Jeff Nichols.
Loving sounds like a pleasantly innocuous, obvious kind of title. However, there is much more to it. The central couple of this film are certainly a loving couple but that is also their name. And, their name went into American Constitutional history in a significant case concerning the state of Virginia and issues of miscegenation, rights and inter-racial marriage.
Loving takes its place with a number of African- American films which received acclaim, award nominations for 2016: Fences, Hidden Figures, Moonlight.
The film opens in the backwaters of Virginia in 1958, Richard Loving, a white bricklayer, is in a relationship with Mildred, an African- American woman, in a rather tight-knit community. Mildred announces she is pregnant, Richard wanting to build a house for them and buying a lot, then deciding to drive to Washington DC to marry because this is forbidden in Virginia. They put their marriage certificate on the wall but, in a night raid, the local sheriff descends on the house, arrests them and puts them in jail.
A friendly lawyer is able to help them with his friend, the judge, but it means pleading guilty and accepting that they must leave the state of Virginia for 25 years. They sadly accept this but, when it is time for the birth of the child, Mildred want Richard’s mother to be the midwife and they return.
This is the time of the major stirrings of the Civil Rights Movement, and the Loving family (three children by now, the boys very energetic, continually running around) are living in DC, see glimpses of the March on Washington on television. But Mildred is encouraged to write to Robert Kennedy and does so.
Over the following years, at a slow pace, civil rights movements become interested in the Loving Case and challenge the past decisions with the Virginia judge, his rejecting the plea, young lawyers taking the case to the state of Virginia, losing again – and deciding, ultimately, to take the case to the Supreme Court.
Of themselves, Richard and Mildred Loving might be called simple folk. This is especially true of Richard, rather laconic, talented in fixing motors and participating in drag racing, constant in his bricklaying work, feeling hard done by the law, rather reluctant to move into the race-legal issues, wary of the media, but a devoted father and completely loving his wife. He is played particularly well by Joel Edgerton. Mildred is more knowledgeable than her husband, becomes interested in the issues though always deferring to Richard. She finds suburban DC oppressive, especially for raising the children and wants to return to live in Virginia. Ruth Negga received an Oscar nomination for this performance.
The film was written and directed by Jeff Nichols who has made a number of very interesting films in recent years including Take Shelter, Mud, Midnight Special, all focusing on families and relationships and crises. Michael Shannon is a regular in his films and it is pleasing to see his brief, rather humorous cameo as a photographer for Life Magazine.
This is an important piece of Americana, a challenge to a state and victory in the Supreme Court, a challenge to legislation based on false interpretations of separations of race from the Bible, the heritage from the slave era.
1. The title and the various meanings?
2. The true story, the 1950s and the 1960s?
3. United States and racism? African- Americans? In Virginia, in Washington DC? Applications of the law, the role of the police, police treatment? The case and its going through the courts, local, state, Supreme?
4. The period, costumes and decor, the atmosphere of Virginia in the 1950s, the countryside, the farm, the house? The details of ordinary life? The musical score? The contrast with Washington DC, the suburbs, the streets, the homes?
5. The strong cast, nominations for awards?
6. The introduction to Richard and to Mildred? Their backgrounds, white and black, their families, the parents? The characters, lifestyle, living in the communities, Richard and his work and building? The background of the drag races?
7. Richard and Mildred, simple people, their life, the relationship, Mildred pregnant, telling Richard? Richard and his getting the property, planning the house, the design? His presence at the drag races, the members of the family, friends, celebrating afterwards, expertise? The decision to marry?
8. The car trip to DC, the simple wedding, Mildred’s father as witness, the certificate, placing it on the wall? At home, in bed, the police arriving during the night, the attitude of the sheriff, hustling them both to the cells? Richard bailed out, Mildred staying? The sheriff and his interview with Richard, the mixture of harshness and understanding?
9. Mildred’s family, the support, the sister upset with Richard? Richard’s mother, home, her role as a midwife? Her later saying that Richard should not have married Mildred?
10. Getting the advice of the lawyer, the discussions, going to the judge, the guilty plea, being suspended, having to leave Virginia for 25 years?
11. Richard, his reactions, out of his depth in most matters, simple and straightforward, laconic, work, devotion to Mildred, the children? Leaving, driving, the DC suburbs? The kind woman taking them in?
12. The issue of the birth, driving home, concealing Mildred? The experience of birth, joy? The police arriving, going to the court, the plea about the birth, the lawyer coming, apologising that it was his fault – but sternly warning them not to come back?
13. The years passing, the children, their energy and running around, two boys and a girl, the visits from Mildred’s family? Richard continuing his work in building, bricklaying?
14. 1958 to 1965, the era of Civil Rights, the family living in DC but not participating, seeing the news on the television of the March on Washington? Mildred finding it hard, the children with limited place to play, baseball, the building sites, the boy hit by the car, Mildred and her decision to go, packing?
15. Mildred writing to Robert Kennedy?
16. Cohan, his call, Richard unwilling, the visit to the office, Cohan young and inexperienced, his desk? His suggestion that they go back to be arrested…?
17. The discussions with the professor, Cohan meeting Hirskop, the discussions about the law, the Constitution, the possibility of change? Their eagerness to take up the case?
18. The time taken for the case, the years passing, the planning strategies, Richard laconic, the case going back before the local judge and losing?
19. The law, Constitution, the case against Virginia, miscegenation, interracial marriage, the heritage from the slave era, rights to marry, the false drawing on arguments from the Bible and separate races, no mixing, no mixing of species? The state of Virginia winning?
20. The brother hurrying along the road, Richard and his alertness, getting the gun?
21. Life magazine, the photographer, a pleasant visit, cheerful story, the photos, especially of the couple on the couch watching television? The brick in Richard’s car surrounded by Life Magazine? The later presentation of the actual photo during the final credits?
22. Life as normal, the episodes of the drag race, the discussion with friends – and the comment that Richard should not have married Mildred?
23. The media, the filming at home, Richard and his being wary? Mildred giving the interview?
24. The Supreme Court, Richard not wanting to go, at home during the hearings? The presentation of both lawyers, their respectful presentation to the judges?
25. The phone call, the good news, the media arriving, Richard and Mildred quiet?
26. The film’s comments about human rights, dignity of persons, right to marriage, the importance of family – and the final visuals of the Loving family together?
27. The final credits, Richard and the drunk driver death? Mildred and her interview, her death in 2008?
