Southside with You

Description

The brilliant conceit of Richard Tanne’s directorial debut is to make a presidential biopic that takes place before the leader in question becomes President. In 1989, Barack (“Barry”) Obama is a summer associate at a Chicago law firm. On a lovely summer’s day, he invites his colleague Michelle Robinson to a community meeting. “It’s not a date,” she tells her amused and interested parents, but Barack sees things a bit differently with a full day planned, including an Afrocentric art exhibit and a walk through the park. Southside with You builds slowly and winningly as these two people get to know one another outside of the office. Barack is flirtatious and gregarious while Michelle is more tentative—after all, she has something to lose by being seen out in public with someone who is subordinate to her at work. But charm and chemistry win out, and Michelle slowly warms to this charismatic man who clearly has a thing for her. Writer/director Tanne takes a cue from Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy using conversation-based scenes that reveal character through dialogue and nuance. He is equally well-served in his casting decisions—Parker Sawyers not only looks remarkably like Obama but channels his speaking style and mannerisms while Tika Sumpter reveals Michelle’s quick intelligence, humor and impeccable style. And running through the whole film for the audience is the frisson that comes with not only knowing that these two people do marry just a couple of years later, but also that they will go on to change history. —Rod Armstrong

Film Details