Film Review: "Really Love" Justifies Black Joy Over Black Pain
When Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz's film Antebellum premiered in September 2020, critics immediately lampooned the horror flick for exploiting Black pain. Viewers cringed when white slave owners repeatedly abused Janelle Monáe's character, Eden, as she tried to escape a not what it seems southern plantation. Vulture staff writer Angelica Jade Bastién found this aspect of the film problematic because the torture inflicted on these Black characters was unnecessary. She stated in her review, "Antebellum ends up being a noxious tour of historic violence against Black folks in service of a story that has nothing novel to say about the obliterating function of whiteness and anti-Black racism."
For every Antebellum, Them, or Lovecraft Country, there is a film or television show that accurately depicts the Black experience without relying on the degradation of Black bodies. Black romantic drama Really Love, which follows a Black painter as he falls in love with a law student, does not rely on savagery to make its point. Instead, it explores what it means to be a Black man in an ever-changing Washington, D.C., with nuance and empathy. Though the film's story does not add anything new to the Black romantic film genre, Really Love is refreshing because it authentically explores how ordinary Black people can do extraordinary things despite their circumstances.
The romantic drama opens on an art show featuring the work of Isaiah's mentor and close confidante, Washington D.C. painter Yusef (Michael Ealy). As Yusef introduces his protégé to the mover and shakers of the Black art world, Isaiah notices a gorgeous young Black Georgetown law student named Stevie (Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing) standing in front of a portrait of an unnamed Black woman. While staring at the beautiful painting, Stevie remarks, "Black people are extraordinary and normal at the same time." Marveled at Stevie's statement, Isaiah compliments the woman on a necklace she purchased from Côte d'Ivoire, and sparks fly between the two adults.
Isaiah and Stevie's relationship blossoms as they go out on double dates with their friends, Mecca (Jade Eshete) and Nick (Tristan Mack Wilds), have deep conversations about their goals and aspirations, and of course, make love. Yet, all is not right for young Isaiah and Stevie. Isaiah commits his time and energy to an upcoming art show for prominent art curator Chenai (Uzo Aduba) while Stevie contemplates her next steps as a top law student. And though their passion for each other is electrifying, the couple must learn how to balance their careers with their relationship or risk losing one another.
As much as Really Love is enjoyable to watch, Felicia Pride's screenplay is predictable. The drama sets the couple's trajectory in motion the moment they meet at Yusef's art show. They fall in love, have amazing montages (and sex), fight, and reconcile, all within an hour and a half. And depending on how you feel about male artists painting their subjects in the nude without their consent, the ending may make you swoon or cringe. But the film does highlight the unique challenges Black artists have to overcome to succeed in their profession. For instance, when Isaiah finally lands his first group art show at Chenai's gallery, he runs into a white male peer who is already on his second solo show, confirming that the Black artist must work twice as hard to get noticed by the art world.
Most romantic movies tend to rely on the cute and awkwardness of their leading couple, like 500 Days of Summer. Yet, the chemistry between Isaiah and Stevie is not cute. It is steamy. Not only do Siriboe and Wong-Loi-Sing look great together as Isaiah and Stevie, but the lines they deliver to one another will make viewers swelter. While visiting Isaiah's studio apartment, Stevie asks Isaiah, "So how do you know when a painting is finished?" He smoothly responds, "How do you know when you're making love to someone?" Additionally, the side characters add just as much likability as the leading couple. Jade Eshete and Tristan Mack Wilds make a great pair as they gently tease their friends for their public displays of affection. Aduba also steals the show as a no-nonsense art curator, and Ealy gives a solid performance as Yusef.
In addition to the star-studded cast, director Angel Kristi Williams and her team craft a gorgeous love letter to the Black people who thrive in Washington D.C. As a filmmaker with several years of experience directing and producing shorts, Williams knows when to let her scenes take a moment and breathe. Instead of speeding through shots, the director places the camera directly on Isaiah and Stevie as they lay on the bed or go for a walk in their historic Black neighborhood. The romantic drama also captures many aspects of Black culture by featuring several real-life Black fine artists and musicians including, Maryland artist Asha Elana Casey, D.C. native Chinedu Felix Osuchukwu and Chicagoan Gerald Lovell. Film composer Khari Mateen also provides a score that is just as moving as the film.
Williams demonstrates that making films about Black joy instead of Black pain is essential. Films such as Twelve Years A Slave and Amistad can encourage white and non-Black audiences to talk about slavery and the horrors of systematic racism more honestly. However, movies that showcase Black people as ordinary people can also show that they can achieve great things by just living their lives. As stated, Really Love may follow the same comforting path as many Black romantic movies. Still, the film's take on Black love, art, and success is exhilarating. Perhaps more filmmakers will create Black characters who fall in love and find happiness rather than go through more unnecessary violence.
