“Love gives and love mirrors. The ability to see
beyond what someone is showing on the outside or saying with their words is
rare; but when they do it is a beautiful thing, it feels great and brings a
sense of freedom needed to remain true to who you are.”- Sacorsha
Beyond the Lights is indeed a beautiful love story,
but it goes deeper. This movie is about becoming or returning to the core of
who you are in spite of the fame and outside voices. Gina Prince-Bythewood
directed a cast that gives the viewers an insight of how the machine we know as
the music industry is ran and their expectations. It shows that they can and
will put artists in a box by creating his or her image without really knowing
the artists and the battle artists have to fight as a means to have their voice heard.
Beyond the lights shows the struggle of Noni
portrayed by Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Kaz portrayed by Nate Parker holding their own
and following their path versus meeting the expectations of others. This movie reminds
us of the sometimes conscious and subconscious desire to please our parents and
the inner conflict this brings. Prince-Blythewood infuses love throughout this
movie and shows that love grows, love changes, love builds and love accepts.
Beyond the Lights is more than a love story. It depicts the journey of two
people who unknowingly need each other to gain strength to take the reins of
their own life and to live their truth. It’s about empowerment in becoming
free; and reminds the viewers that there is power in people seeing and
believing in you.
This film stars Gugu
Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, Minnie Driver and Danny Glover
