Written and directed by Stella Meghie, The Photograph just might be the sweetest ode to black love. The film takes place in New York, a city known for its romantic splendor. Visually and aesthetically appealing, the film captures the essence of real love in spite of its struggles. Rae is stunning, bold, and courageous, while her co-star Stanfield is suave, funny, and refined.
The chemistry between the pair is sweet, innocent, pure, and seemingly poetic. The first time that they appear on screen together is magical. ( Rae) plays Mae Morton, the daughter of a famous photographer. (Stanfield) plays Michael Block, a charismatic journalist at The Reporter magazine, who ironically happens to be following a story that features Mae’s recently deceased mom Christina. In the middle of his interview he notices a black and white photo of a younger Christina. This picture quickly fuels his curiosity.
Soon he meets Mae and the two merge together in a world of art, intimacy, and passion. Their relationship begins almost instantly, but like most relationships they encounter problems. Mae’s character struggles with feelings that she is just like her mom, while Michael is aimlessly searching for something else.They realize that they both have unresolved issues regarding the past and are faced with an ultimatum of choosing love or allowing history to repeat itself. The romantic drama is wonderfully written and perfectly combines the past with the present. The audience is able to watch a parallel story of love, life, and sacrifice. From the visuals to the music, The Photograph possesses all of the ingredients for the perfect romantic drama. The soundtrack presents ideal music to swoon its listeners, featuring artists like Lucky Daye and H.E.R. I fell in love with the cinematography, the music, and the overall feelings of this film. The Photograph offers a unique experience to viewing black love and provides the perfect addition to the black cinema legacy.