The BBC is streaming a period drama that fans have called a 'masterpiece' and 'powerful'. 'If Beale Street Could Talk', set in Harlem in the 1970s, stars Colman Domingo and Regina King, with KiKi Layne and Stephan James in lead roles.
Plot and Cast
Based on the novel by James Baldwin, the film follows Clementine 'Tish' Rivers, a young woman who races against time to prove the innocence of her fiancé Alonzo 'Fonny' Hunt, who is wrongly accused of assault. Tish is also pregnant with their first child. Domingo plays Tish's father Joseph, while King portrays her mother. King won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role.
Critical and Audience Reception
Viewers have praised the film on platforms like IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes. One fan 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.' Another called it 'heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal doses', adding 'So beautiful, I am speechless.' A Rotten Tomatoes user noted: 'It's so immaculately crafted that many moments I found myself audibly gasping.'
Impact and Availability
The film has been described as 'a powerful, deeply moving love story' that 'will rip your heart out'. 'If Beale Street Could Talk' is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
