Film
If Beale Street Could Talk
- Director
- Barry Jenkins
- Certificate
- 15
- Running Time
- 119 mins
Barry Jenkins‘ follow-up to the Oscar winning Moonlight is an adaptation of James Baldwin‘s 1974 novel of the same title. It’s a typically lyrical, superbly crafted drama telling a story of racial discrimination and miscarriage of justice that’s more personal than overtly political.
In a breakthrough performance, KiKi Layne plays pregnant Tish Rivers, who sets out to clear the name of her partner partner Fonny (Stephan James, who played Jesse Owens in Race). He’s languishing in jail charged with the rape of a Puerto Rican woman, despite having a cast-iron alibi. Regina King gives a superb performance as Tish’s supportive mother. The film has received near-universal acclaim, the only serious criticism being reserved for Jenkins’ decision to swathe so much of it in jazz and pop music.
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