Watch Official Trailer for ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ (VIDEO)

Posted by | Ray Cornelius

Annapurna Pictures has released the official trailer and poster for the upcoming film adaptation of James Baldwin‘s classic If Beale Street Could Talk.

Set in early-1970s Harlem, If Beale Street Could Talk is a timeless and moving love story of both a couple’s unbreakable bond and the African-American family’s empowering embrace, as told through the eyes of 19-year-old Tish Rivers (screen newcomer KiKi Layne). A daughter and wife-to-be, Tish vividly recalls the passion, respect and trust that have connected her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by the nickname Fonny (Stephan James). Friends since childhood, the devoted couple dream of a future together but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit.

Through the unique intimacy and power of cinema, If Beale Street Could Talk honors the author’s prescient words and imagery, charting the emotional currents navigated in an unforgiving and racially biased world as the filmmaker poetically crosses time frames to show how love and humanity endure.

The film also features Regina King, Colman Domingo, Teyonah Parris, Brian Tyree Henry, Aunjanue L. Ellis, Michael Beach, Ed Skrein, Diego Luna, Dave Franco, and Pedro Pascal.

Oscar winner Barry Jenkins serves as the project’s director.

Click here to listen at my UPFRONT interview with Colman Domingo when he talked about his role in the film.