A new trailer has arrived for the historical drama Loving, which has been a firm favourite of the 2016 film festival circuit. Written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Midnight Special), the film stars Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton as Mildred and Richard Loving – a couple from the state of Virgina whose commitment to their relationship, and to each other, changed the course of American history.
Their story concerns the application of anti-miscegenation laws in Virgina, and how their decision to travel to Washington D.C for the purpose of marriage in 1958 was used against them upon their return. Virginia still enforced laws that perpetuated racial segregation – including those that criminalized interracial marriage and relationships – and an anonymous tip-off from within their community brought local police officers to their home. Charged with a crime, both were sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for 25 years provided they left the state. They did so, and moved to the District Of Columbia – but Mildred and Richard were moved to act at the idea of being exiled from their home.
The action taken by Mildred and Richard Loving caused the United States Supreme Court to declare anti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional – a binding decision that paved the way for future legal challenges in support of civil rights.
Loving has been warmly received by critics and audiences alike at festival screenings so far this year – with much praise being heaped on both the lead performers and Nichols as a filmmaker. Such acclaim is certainly borne out by this latest promotional footage, which showcases the way in which Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga seem to draw us in to their life together – laying the foundation for the battle to come.
The film will open on November 4th, 2016.
“From acclaimed writer/director Jeff Nichols, Loving celebrates the real-life courage and commitment of an interracial couple, Richard and Mildred Loving (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.”