Two weeks ago I was in Los Angeles for the Loving Press Junket. While there I had the opportunity to attend an advanced screening of the film and sit down with the stars of the film, Ruth Negga, Joel Edgerton, and Terri Abney and Director Jeff Nichols. I’ll be sharing more with you about our time with the cast and director in the coming days but today, I want to focus on the film! LOVING opens in select cities today but through the month of November it will be making its appearance for the world to see which is perfect because the world should see. It’s been quite some time since I recommended a film, based on a true story, be seen by the entire family but it is very fitting here.
From acclaimed writer/director Jeff Nichols, LOVING celebrates the real-life courage and commitment of an interracial couple, Richard and Mildred Loving (portrayed by Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga), who married and then spent the next nine years fighting for the right to live as a family in their hometown. Their civil rights case, Loving v. Virginia, went all the way to the Supreme Court, which in 1967 reaffirmed the very foundation of the right to marry – and their love story has become an inspiration to couples ever since.
Are you familiar with the Lovings or their Supreme Court case? If you are, you’re doing much better than me. This was not something that I became aware of until I learned about the movie. This isn’t something that was covered in history books when I was in school, it isn’t something that I learned in advanced history classes when I was in college, and I’ve never seen it highlighted in the news. Loving v. Virginia is a huge part of our history that is missing from history … if that makes any sense. A part of history that is important for us, our children, and our grandchildren to know and understand.
Ruth Negga (left) stars as Mildred and Joel Edgerton (right) stars as Richard in Jeff Nichols LOVING, a Focus Features release.
Credit : Ben Rothstein / Focus Features
Here are our 5 Reasons to See LOVING!
1) LOVING reminds us to look within ourselves.
Were you raised in a home that supported racism or taught it? A home where racial epithets were used or seen as okay?
I know that these are difficult questions but these things are part of our history. In some homes, this is still a part of everyday life. Sad? Yes. True? Yes.
LOVING reminds us to look within ourselves. To look at our prejudices and figure out why they are there. To question them, challenge them, and hopefully release them. Richard and Mildred Loving loved each other. That’s all, they simply loved each other. Their relationship, their love wasn’t hurting anyone so why was it a cause for concern?
While we all have the right to choose who is part of our lives, is it fair to base that on an individual’s race, gender, religion, preferences …
If we take the time to look within ourselves and simply focus on loving our neighbors and making the world a better place we could move mountains.
2) LOVING encourages us to think about our complacency.
As Ruth Negga said during our sit down, “No struggle is done, dusted, and over.”
Think about the state of the United States today. On June 12, 1967, the United States Supreme Court ruled that marriage is an inherent right. That ruling allowed interracial couples to marry.
How long did it take same-sex couples to receive the same right?
Turn on the news; have we completely eradicated the hate of yesteryear?
Instead of being accepting or satisfied with the way things are, we need to continue to stand up. Support one another, love one another. We can eradicate hate and darkness with love.
Ruth Negga (2nd from right) stars as Mildred and Joel Edgerton (right) stars as Richard in Jeff Nichols LOVING, a Focus Features release.
Credit : Ben Rothstein / Focus Features
3) LOVING proves that two ordinary people, one extraordinary love can change the nation.
Richard and Mildred Loving were an ordinary couple that decided to marry and start a family. While they were catalysts for the Supreme Court decision, they were not activists. They were legally married in Washing D.C. and reasonably expected that would suffice for them to live peacefully in their home.
The only reason that the Lovings sought legal aid was because they wanted to be able to live in their home and raise their family. They agreed to go public and speak with press because they thought it was help others. After the Supreme Court handed down their decision, the Lovings went back to their lives, raised their children, and rarely gave interviews.
They had an unshakeable devotion, they were a committed couple that was very much in love and that love changed the law and the nation.
4) LOVING confirms that love will find a way.
The Lovings were married in Washington D.C. where interracial marriage was legal. Their marriage only became an “issue” when they returned to Virginia where their marriage was illegal. Had they stayed in Washington D.C., I wouldn’t be writing this post. We wouldn’t be discussing a movie and the couple would have lived out their lives, likely without anyone in history making note of them.
But, much like me, the Lovings were drawn to their family, their home, and they wanted their children to grow up in the country, where they could experience and explore nature, instead of the inner city.
They were willing to risk their freedom because of the love that they had for each other, their family, and their home. That is where the story truly begins. That love pushed them to find a way.
Joel Edgerton (2nd from left) stars as Richard and Ruth Negga (right) stars as Mildred in Jeff Nichols LOVING, a Focus Features release.
Credit : Ben Rothstein / Focus Features
5) LOVING renews faith.
Seeing this film will renew your faith in love, hope, and humanity. It reminds us that there are still good people in the world who truly want to help. There is a lot of ugly in the world but if you look around, there is beauty as well. The good can be seen in the smallest of gestures and often when we don’t think others are paying attention.
Brace yourself. Let me be among the first to remind you that there are still people that do good things, just for the sake of doing them, without seeking reward or recognition. There is good in the world, you just have to look for it.
The Lovings remind us that there is still such a thing as true love. It reminds us that good ole fashioned love stories do exist.
The Lovings also remind us that there is reason to hope. Even in our darkest hour, one only need turn on the light to find their way. No matter how desperate a situation may feel, holding on to hope aids us in finding a way. There were many battles that the Lovings fought along the way and they lost most of them. Yet, Mildred held on to hope … and they won the war.
In the end … LOVE {and the Lovings} WINS!
Richard and Mildred’s story showed us that love is stronger than hate and has the power to spark real change. To learn more about film and the #VoteLoving campaign, visit VoteLoving.com.
Follow LOVING to participate and help love change the world!
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#VoteLoving
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LOVING
In Select Cities November 4
Additional Cities throughout November
Cast: Joel Edgerton, Ruth Negga, Marton Csokas, Nick Kroll, Terri Abney, Alano Miller, Jon Bass, and Michael Shannon
Written and Directed By: Jeff Nichols
Distributor: Focus Features
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I was sent on an all-expense paid trip to Los Angeles to cover the LOVING Event with Focus Features. Regardless, all opinions expressed are still 100% my own.
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