And in that context, Southside With You is a charmer. It is a sweet, romantic little film with a touch of biography mixed in. Here, Barack (Parker Sawyers) and Michelle (Tika Sumpter) are good-looking progressives, each with the highly evolved social consciousness of an ambitious Young Democrat/Saul Alinsky acolyte.
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Fortunately, whenever Southside With You threatens to get too cute, it pulls back a little.
“Southside With You” is more than a carefree portrait of young love, but how much more may depend on your ability to keep your political perspectives at arm’s length.
The film is sharply focused, delivering biographical facts about the pair as casually as new acquaintances would tell their details to each other.
In a recent chat with Chicago, Legend discusses the importance of telling stories with diverse characters, reveals his songwriting process, and touches on why he values speaking out rather than staying quiet.
What do you think was the essence of Barack’s personality and motivation during this date? . “I wrote it with Tika in mind, because I had met her before I went off to write the script and I thought she’d be great for the part” Richard Tanne said ahead of the screening, after which the crowd continued onto the yet-to-open Harold’s Meat + Three at Arlo Hudson Square. “She’s giving me strength and she’s why I do what I do and it’s bigger than me”. But either way, my mission in life is to make the world more interesting, more lovely and bring more light to it. Slavery is important for us to talk about.
Take a peek at the trailer that made us fall in love! For that reason, there will be people who want to see it as political. “You want to share some aspects of your life”. We should be allowed that. The film has already gotten glowing reviews and became a hit when it showed at the Sundance Film Festival. But “Southside With You” treats the whole scene as if it’s endearing. We are seeing major figures in the captivating act of becoming themselves. We saw a rough cut and were so excited by it. “But then, when I really drilled down into it, and understood the nuances and the conflict between very simple exchanges, I was like, ‘This would be really interesting as an actor'”. It’s hard for me to judge my parents strictly or to hold onto a grudge because people are people and they make mistakes – as long as it’s not “I’m going to hurt you”.
Honestly, that it chose to be so small. They wouldn’t enjoy it, despite its virtues, because they would be annoyed by one of the two love stories.
The major “Obama” moment, so to speak, occurs at the Southside church itself. I was happy to be the lead in a film, have a job and be on location.
“By the end you realize he’s a smooth-talking brother with a lot of substance”. At sunset they walk along the lakeshore, not Michigan Avenue, probably because the Magnificent Mile has changed so much since 1989. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and stuff like that.
You know the Obamas pretty well.
Sumpter said Tanne, who did extensive research for his screenplay, had creative freedom, but she would nudge him gently when she felt his dialogue rang false. But about a month into their working relationship, he suggests that they “spend the day together”, and based on that wording, she agrees. Close to 27 years ago. It makes you feel something.
Obviously, this is not a film for anyone who dislikes President Obama.
Can’t say it makes me yearn for a presidential first-date series, exactly – a flirty Millard and Abigail Fillmore? “Michelle Obama is like a complete person right now”. There’s more meat there, and she’s also essentially the heart of the story. And who has an epic date like that? They did eat ice cream, and they did have their first kiss at the time and place depicted. All of that in one date. “I’m really selfish with my life”, she declares with no guilt.
There’s a plaque commemorating it. I’m normally singing in my full voice [and here] I’m very literally whispering in this light falsetto. It’s ambitious in its lack of ambition.
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What do you think about the film’s discussions of race and class? In a lot of ways, the world is better than it ever was, and safer than it ever was. “She stares at people in the face and she means what she means and she talks with passion”. If I don’t see an image of myself in a magazine constantly, I don’t buy it. How you’re outspoken, but also thoughtful. We know what they will do and who they will become. “I feel like I’m going to pop right now but I have an empowerment with the baby here”. And his hand was in and out of his pocket, so I wanted to make sure I did that.
