When famed photographer Christina Eames dies unexpectedly, she leaves her estranged daughter, Mae, hurt, angry and full of questions. When Mae finds a photograph tucked away in a safe-deposit box, she soon finds herself delving into her mother’s early life — an investigation that leads to an unexpected romance with a rising journalist.
Imagine a Journalist and a Museum Curator falling in love after fate put them together and then imagine every obstacle being put in their path to tear them apart. This is what happens in “The Photograph.” The way it happens though, is what makes it sexy, reassuring, hilarious and the perfect movie for Valentine’s Day! Issa Rae stars as Mae, a Museum Curator who just lost her mother Christina (Chanté Adams), who was a photographer, and to add insult to injury, she is recently coming out of a relationship. While Mae’s father (Courtney B. Vance) has been supportive, they both were daunted by Christina’s inability to have good relationships with the people she cared about. Her mother left handwritten letters and instructions to follow, and as Mae tries to learn more about her mother after her death, she is forced to deal with some truths about her own relationships.
Michael Block (LaKeith Stanfield), a reporter for The Republic, has landed the story that involves finding out more about Christina, the woman behind some very famous photographs. When he delves into her history, he learns she has a daughter (Mae) and when he attempts to visit Mae to learn more about Christina, he becomes lovestruck even though he is just getting out of a complicated relationship. The more he learns about Christina, the more he is intrigued by her daughter, although his best friend (Lil Rel Howery) advises him to slow down. The twists and turns begin to develop in the movie when Mae learns through her mother’s letters, that her real dad (Y’lan Noel) is someone other than the man who raised her and the man who knew Christina best has no idea that he is Mae’s father.
As Mae and Michael spend more and more time together, neither wants to admit they are smitten by one another. Michael, who had just recently applied for a new job in London, realizes that he must accept the position for his career growth, but at the same time, he wants to hold on to the new relationship. As Mae and Michael find themselves trapped together during a storm, they realize what they have for one another gets stronger as each lets down their barriers. The intimacy that they have for one another sets the tone for Mae to begin feeling that she can truly work out her relationship issues that were formed through her mom’s attitude towards her while she was growing up, and Michael feels like he has finally found someone who can challenge him and make him better. As each rebounds from their failed relationships, they find themselves closer to one another and more open to the idea of a love that has no boundaries.
Director Stella Meghie does an excellent job of pacing the film with just enough excitement to draw the audience in and keep the characters transforming themselves into loveable human beings. The magnitude of emotions forms picture-perfect imagery of what can happen when people love each enough to allow themselves to grow with one another through their individual faults. There is no match for the long stares provided by Issa Rae and LaKeith Stanfield looking into each other’s eyes and freely displaying the giddiness of love and the heart-wrenching goofiness when it hits you in the gut. Whether you’re solo or coupled-up, this movie gives you all the feels of a gift that keeps on giving which is love without limits.
In Theaters Friday, February 14th
