Middle of Nowhere

Desperately searching indie sites to find something to watch. Idie Wire had Emayatzy Corinealdi's performance as one of the best in the decade and I had not seen the film so I watched it. Her performance is perfect, can't wait to see her other stuff. I loved this movie because it is a true love story. As the years pass while she waits for her husband to get out of jail she grows in the best of ways. She sees her part in how she got into the situation. The repeated scenes where she imagines being in bed with or walking hand and hand with her incarcerated husband really struck home. Not because I have had an incarcerated love but because sometimes intense love continues even when it is over. This movie touched my heart. I have not seen another movie that nailed that feeling inside that I have about my past great love. It must be a hard thing to do in a movie since I have not seen any other film maker get it right until now.

I enjoyed this movie. The characters were complex and true to life. You can see yourself, your family, friends, etc. In each character. We are complicated and have many layers.

It's possible to tell a story about the so-called negative aspects of a culture without belittling the group or individuals involved. This is something directors, particularly of African descent, seem to be lacking, imo. In other words, if there's no brutality depicted , then it's "not capturing the rawness of reality" ...Ms DuVernay defies this false notion and I've noticed she has been stealthily doing so for quite a while now. I would be proud to call her my daughter, sister, or partner if I had such a relationship with her. unfortunately, I'll just have to settle for a proud, admiring fan. The lesson here: It's all about humanizing the characters, not trashing their existence, Well done!.

It is always refreshing to see good indie movies exploring dark themes in a sensitive and almost lyric way. These are, incidentally, the two major strong points of this movie.

There are many titles, some rather good ones, exploring incarceration an its effects on the person behind bars. Multiple angles and story lines are explored, almost always from the incarcerated point of view.

'Middle of Nowhere', instead, puts the focus on an accomplished young woman whose life hangs still when her young husband is incarcerated for a long term, and makes the movie about the effects of incarceration on people who are on the outside, supposedly free, but actually suffering by proxy a set of restrictions and struggles that derive from the fact that a loved one or in-law is not present. That is an interesting take on the subject.

Nonetheless, the script is just too slow. There are several cogent reasons for a script to be slow, such as character development, parallel narratives - but none of them could possible justify it here. Thus, it becomes very difficult to keep paying attention on what the director had in mind as dozens of minutes are just fillers that, in turn, are juxtaposed with some pivotal scenes that are paradoxically too hurried up.

True love demands certain sacrifices, so Ruby regularly visits her husband Derek in prison, works hard to pay household and legal expenses, and endures frequent and unbearable lectures from her mother regarding bad life choices. Her husband is a good man, so it is worth it. Time, however, has a way of changing things. Despite her devotion, Ruby faces temptations and disappointments. She struggles to maintain her dignity and composure, and to shine even on her worst day.

This elegant and complex film is a little hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. I was delighted to find it. The photography is one of the best things about it; colorful and beautiful images (mostly at night) make the film a gem even if it had no sound. The moody music, acoustic and ambient, adds to the magic. The story, acting and directing are also extremely well done. This film must have been a profound influence for Moonlight, or be connected to it in some way, for both films are similar in appearance, aura and stupefying impressions they leave. Winner of best director prize at Sundance.