Sometimes, being on the right side of justice puts you on the wrong side of the law. Mildred and Richard Loving found themselves in that position in late-1950s Virginia, a time and place not known for interracial tolerance. Based on a true story, the film explores the timeline of the couple’s tender relationship, from learning their first child was on the way to inspiring a U.S. Supreme Court case on marriage equality. Though they had married in Washington, D.C., Mildred and Richard could not legally live together in Virginia because they were an interracial couple. They endured prejudice and bullying by law enforcement and local courts, but survived with the help of relatives.
The film moves at a gentle pace, with lingering shots of facial expressions and interpersonal reactions. The cast members were new names to me, but all played their roles effectively, from the soft-spoken Mildred to the hard-edged police officers who pursued her and Richard. Perhaps the film’s most striking takeaway is that this kind of discrimination was not just a product of the distant past—it has been felt within the lifetimes of many Americans alive today.
Should you see it? Yes. It’s an important lesson on love and the fragility of freedoms we take for granted.
Viewed at Landmark Plaza Frontenac Theater
