The BBC is currently streaming the period drama If Beale Street Could Talk, featuring Colman Domingo and Regina King, which viewers have called a 'masterpiece'. The film is set in 1970s Harlem and follows Clementine 'Tish' Rivers (KiKi Layne), whose childhood friend and partner Alonzo 'Fonny' Hunt (Stephan James) is falsely accused of assaulting a woman.
Plot and Cast
Based on the novel by James Baldwin, the synopsis reads: 'If Beale Street Could Talk is the story of Tish, a newly engaged Harlem woman who races against the clock to prove her lover's innocence while carrying their first born child to term. It is a celebration of love told through the story of a young couple, their families and their lives, trying to bring about justice through love, for love and the promise of the American dream.'
Colman Domingo, known for roles in Selma and Michael, plays Tish's father Joseph. Regina King portrays Tish's mother, a performance that earned her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
Viewer Reactions
The film has resonated strongly with audiences. One viewer on IMDb wrote: 'Going into If Beale Street Could Talk, I knew it would be a good movie since Barry Jenkins directed it and Moonlight was incredible. But what we actually got was an absolute masterpiece.' The viewer praised the 'incredible' performances, narrative, and cinematography, concluding: 'If Beale Street Could Talk is a work of art.'
Others concurred it was 'excellent' and a 'must-watch', with one viewer describing it as 'heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal doses'. 'So beautiful, I am speechless,' another commented. 'This was a powerful, deeply moving love story,' one viewer observed. 'I personally found myself crying while watching this movie, several times.'
On Rotten Tomatoes, a reviewer noted: 'It's so immaculately crafted that many moments I found myself audibly gasping; some scenes so beautifully composed, so artfully shot, and so visually tender yet powerful that you want to hang the film on a wall.' Another viewer warned: 'It will rip your heart out.' A Reddit user called it 'outstanding'. A further fan said it left them 'utterly speechless', adding: 'The film says so much in the most poetic and achingly beautiful way imaginable.'
If Beale Street Could Talk is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
