Southside With You

Genre: Biography, Romance

Starring: Tika Sumpter, Parker Sawyers, Vanessa Bell Calloway

A biographical romantic film that chronicles the actual love story of former President of the United States, Barack Obama, the movie is not only popular among American-Africans but also brings in a sense of hope within the community. The entire movie revolves around the beginning of a relationship that culminated in marriage and White House residency. So unlike other films where you may wonder at the outcome, this film has a foregone conclusion as you already know how the romance blossomed into commitment.

The film is about a summer day in 1989 when law student Barack Obama, tried to win the heart of a young lawyer in his firm, Michelle Robinson.  On their first date in Chicago’s South Side, the couple visit an exhibit at a local art centre, attend a community meeting where Obama gives a speech, view a screening of the comedy Do the Right Thing, and have their first kiss outside an ice cream parlour.  The thread running through all their engagements had a strong African nuance, from the art exhibit to the community speech by Obama where the latter speaks of issues plaguing the African community at large. Challenges of African-American identity, the need for both idealism and making peace to bring about sweeping change, are some of the conversational highlights of the romantic walkabout as the couple get to know each other.

Great dialogue and acting makes this an enjoyable romantic movie. The two lead characters captivate you with strong performances in this simple walk-and-talk film, playing intelligent characters that spend a day together on a date. The strong likeness of both the lead characters with the real-life persona, powerful performances and intense dialogue, captivate viewers regardless of political affiliations. The romance and day long date that changed both the protagonists’ lives, makes this a dreamy romantic date movie, a must-watch for young African-American.