I WILL FOLLOW...U2

Friday night I hosted the 7^th edition of Images of Black Women Festival (IBW) at The Tricycle Theatre. The mission of this festival, which was co-founded by Slyvianne Rano, is to highlight and celebrate the achievements and presence of women who are of African descent in cinema, across the world both in front and behind the camera lens. 

I was therefore honoured to present the UK première of I WILL FOLLOW, a feature film debut by writer, producer, director and so much more Ava DuVernay. YES I/WE CAN is clearly the motto as she strives and achieves in  kicking down doors that from the outside seem to be firmly shut, not by force or underhand tactics, but through integrity, presence, creativity and content of high quality. This film was the first release by black film distribution collective African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM, pronounced Affirm) and I have no doubt that there will be many more.

I WILL FOLLOW is a narrative film that chronicles the day in the life of “Maye” (Salli Richardson-Whitfield) a successful make-up artist who recently lost her aunt “Amanda” (Beverly Todd) to breast cancer. Over the course of the film we see the various emotions “Maye” goes through as she remembers the person who she loves and has now lost. We also see how other people who knew her react and the dynamics this has on her own grieving process.

Things can’t replace people, though it is some of her things that triggers “Maye’s” memories, through which we, the audience see the person we never got to meet though flashbacks. The balance here is right and this effervescent, bold, sassy women comes to life in such a way that I am able to see that “Maye” is who she is primarily due to her. Music was another big influence that again was eloquently captured though debates and felt through smooth beats that overlaid different scenes,  each time forcing my head to bop and my soul to smile. The power of music is underestimated and a fact that took me out of the film to acknowledge that I miss these sounds and I miss films like this.

I WILL FOLLOW lacks the Hollywood gloss, which is a good thing. It is an honest story of love, loss and finding your way within, without the negative, stereotypical and over dramatisation of who black people are or meant to be. The relationship between “Maye” and “Troy” played by Omari Hardwick was sensitive, touching and heartbreaking, though the love within the pain was tremendously beautiful. The scene on the swings. I will not say anymore for two reasons, firstly I do not want to spoil it for those who haven’t seen the film and lastly, I have no words to fully describe the impact it deserves.

The pace and duration of the film was spot on. Grief knows nothing about time and I feel this was captured in a cleaver way though the one day, one location set up. “Maye” did not run away from her grief she stayed and so did we. People came to her and those that didn't, namely her boyfriend “Evan”, played by Blair Underwood meant that she had to make a decision as his actions affirmed the saying “You know who your friends are in times of need”.

I am aware that a few people felt the film could have “tied up a few ends” to answer some questions, I personally felt this was not needed. Everything we needed to know was there. How long “Evan” and “Maye” were together for, for example was irrelevant because he wasn’t there when she needed him the most. That’s it. 

The film as a whole reminded me of the dynamics at a funeral. Many faces, some you know, others you have never seen, but you know everyone is there for the same purpose and everyone has a story, a memory that may never be told to you. Through observation and interactions the dynamics can be seen, though the full understanding and depth may never be told. This is what I WILL FOLLOW captured for me without showing the funeral.

Refreshing, original, creative, beautifully written and shot, coupled with a great cast. This film is important and powerful. The power alone resides in the acknowledgment that this is Ava DuVernay’s personal story and transcends into the recognition that it was told and screened though the help of people who believed in the project and collaborated.  There IS value in the black voice which cannot be measured. The market is there, our stories need to be told and we need to define who we are.

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3.I will Follow...U2: Film Review
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