Beale Street: Mid-70s African American Novel Gets 21st Century Cinematographic Treatment

Image Credit: TIFF

The movie "If Beale Street Could Talk" has finally been released and is now playing in theaters across the country.

This movie, which is based on a novel that James Baldwin wrote in 1974 and is directed by the award-winning cinematographer Barry Jenkins, provides rare insight into African American cinema and black literature.

The film explores themes that are highly relevant for priests and seminarians, including African American religiosity, relationships both inside and outside of marriage, challenges facing American families, and the racial and class dimensions of the American criminal justice system.

While the movie has many inspiring and uplifting scenes there are also parts of it that authentically express disturbing opinions about race in the United States which requires some degree of discretion, discernment, and context.

If one goes to movies mostly to be entertained and to escape from frustrating and unpleasant realities this film is not for you. It is not a movie that will make you "feel good", but is a movie that breaks new ground, will no doubt win awards, and will have movie critics talking for years to come.