Review: Sylvie's Love
Thursday, December 24, 2020 at 7:30PM by Matt St Clair
We're happily beginning to see a broader variety of black-centered period dramas. Although Sylvie’s Love does touch upon the racism of the 1950s, it's more concerned with showcasing romance than trauma. This light holiday viewing serves up an old-fashioned “one that got away” story that thrives on the simplicity of the romance genre.
During the first act of Sylvie’s Love, the song “Fools Falls in Love” by The Drifters sets the tone for the entire picture. A song about the problem with falling in love too fast perfectly captures the conflict that Sylvie (Tessa Thompson), an aspiring TV producer, and saxophonist Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha) face after an encounter at a record store owned by Sylvie's father where she works...
As Robert and Sylvie engage in a blissful summer romance in 1950s Harlem, the song begins to signal the melancholy that will come when the two lovers go on their separate paths to make their dreams come true. Robert travels to Paris with his jazz band while Sylvie gets a production assistant job at a cooking show. Once their paths diverge Sylvie’s Love becomes an interesting contemplation of both love and circumstance.
When they have that chance meeting, they’re instantly smitten. Yet, once Sylvie becomes pregnant and Robert prepares to head off to Europe, Sylvie is faced with a tough decision: Tell him so they can build a life together while she makes her own dream come true or let him take off so that they both can achieve their goals while still making him the one that got away. We obviously know which choice she makes.
Given the title you can guess that Sylvie’s Love is primarily the Tessa Thompson show. While it doesn’t reach the same heights as her career-best work in the criminally underseen Little Woods, the performance is still a fine example of her substantial movie star charisma. She and Nnamdi Asomugha have intoxicating chemistry and Aja Naomi King proves a terrific scene partner as Sylvie’s close friend, Mona. Meanwhile, Jemima Kirke provides allure as Robert’s band manager named Countess.
Sylvie’s major transition from care-free vivacious lover to sensible career woman is not just left to Thomson's skill but also exemplified in the costume design by Phoenix Mellow. The luxurious dresses Sylvie wears, signify her assimilation into the high-end TV industry, contrasting with the more bourgeois wardrobe she initially wears.
If the picture has any flaws, it's that the third act definitely makes you feel the nearly two-hour running time. Other than that, Sylvie’s Love is a terrific effort from writer/director Eugene Ashe. With charismatic lead performances and a simple heartfelt story, you can’t go wrong making this part of your Christmas week viewing. B+
Sylvie’s Love is currently streaming on Prime Video.
Reader Comments (8)
I agree on the runtime/pacing, but it's a minor issue for me considering all of the other delights this film has to offer. I'm not someone who thinks stories of Black struggle should go away, but it was so refreshing to see a Black love story, set in the past, that didn't focus on it while still making small nods to the obstacles that were in place. Every element from design to casting is just beautiful. It put me in the mood of movies like Paris Blues (1961) and Brooklyn (2015).
I agree that it was refreshing to see a Black love story set in this period that was not centered on the civil rights movement (while still acknowledging it existed). It was great to see so much classic jazz integrated into the plot, too (Sonny Rollins's Way Out West and Coltrane's My Favorite Things are two of my favorite albums). This movie would be a good multi-generational watch over the holidays (if theaters were open, I could see it becoming at least minor box office hit for that reason). It definitely made me move Little Woods to the top of my watchlist.
jules- Glad you like the review and plan to watch Little Woods. Very underrated film.
Saw this last night and was smitten. I also felt the movie was a smidge long, but when there's such beauty on screen, it's hard to quibble about it.
why did ii feel like this movie was a snapshot of the relationship between Nnamdi Asomugha and Kerry Washington? he started his career in the NFL (Band gig in Paris) but was cut (never achieved star/celebrity status) while she was a C+ actress that skyrocketed to the B+ hemisphere with Scandal. but as a black man, ii actually love the narrative that a successful black woman can still be in love with a not so successful black man, and not disrespect him on account of it.
I did not know the Duke was in this, and quite adorable, too.
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"Sylvie's Love" is a beautiful and captivating paper io film that leaves audiences mesmerized with its timeless romance and evocative storytelling. Set in the backdrop of the 1950s and 1960s, the movie exudes a sense of nostalgia that tugs at the heartstrings.