For a film about a landmark court case, LOVING is far more interested in depicting the humanity of the people at the center of the case than in dazzling the audience with a display of legal acrobatics.
Loving vs. Virginia ruled against the state of Virginia’s anti-miscegenation laws. It lifted the ban on interracial marriages and paved the way for other states to get rid of their legal restrictions on marriage. The case was also cited as precedent in the 2015 Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage. The case has had a lasting impact on the country’s attitudes towards racism and equality, and as the film would note, the country’s conception of love.
One of the notable qualities of the film is its understated approach to the subject matter. Typically, films that hinge on moral and ethical questions amplify the drama, insert stirring monologues, and take on a didactic tone. Director Jeff Nichols’ approach is refreshingly different.
Protagonists Richard and Mildred Loving are reserved and astonishingly unflappable. The chemistry of actors Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga allows them to sit silently and convey a world of emotion. Instead of rousing speeches about love and equality, they use their gestures and soft-toned voices to convey worry, doubt, fear, and ultimately strength.
Industry chatter is already earmarking LOVING and its stars for Oscar nominations. But the film’s ultimate victory won’t be in awards — it will be in spreading the message that love transcends hate.
— Diana Martinez, Film Streams Education Director
