342. Miss Juneteenth; movie review

 

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MISS JUNETEENTH

Cert 15

99 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong language

My parents were born in wartime and knew the hardships of being part of a nation which was having to rebuild from the rubble.

They left school at 15 and went straight to work, putting in all hours to create a comfortable home for a future family.

As it turned out, I was an only child and they poured all of their efforts into giving me opportunities which they didn't have.

Mrs W and I attempted to pass on that baton to our children, trying to load the dice in their favour by concentrating on their education.

Despite huge differences in background, our vision for our kids prompted empathy with Nicole Beharie's character, single mum Turquoise Jones.

She wants to fulfil ambitions vicariously through her 15-year-old daughter, Kai (Alexis Chikaeze), working as hard as she can to pay for chances which didn't come her way.

Meanwhile, she runs a BBQ and lounge for a local businessman, collecting tips so Kai can afford to compete in the Miss Juneteeth competition.

The latter was won by Turquoise many years previously but she couldn't take up its prestigious scholarship.

Kai is less than keen to follow in her mum's footsteps, wanting to be a dancer rather than aspiring to be a doctor or lawyer.

The commemoration of Juneteenth is interesting in itself because it commemorates the day slavery was abolished in Texas and yet Channing Godfrey Peoples film makes clear that there is a long way to go before equality is achieved.

Miss Juneteenth brings the racial divide up to date, showing how hard it is for people of colour to prosper in a white world.

It adds the layer of the ambitious parent against reluctant teenager which would resonate with any backdrop while also sprinkling in cultural nuances specific to Texas.

Unfortunately, however, it takes too long to get to its point, creates too many stereotypes and takes two giant steps backwards with resolutions which are contrived and too easy.

Thus, while enjoying Beharie's compelling lead and understanding aits aims are laudable, it can't score higher.

Reasons to watch: Gritty representation of black America

Reasons to avoid: Slow going

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 6/10

Did you know? Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free.

The final word. Channing Godfrey Peoples: “This story has been with me my whole life. When I left Texas and went to film school in California, I’d say ‘Happy Juneteenth!’ to people, and they would look at me kind of curiously. But it was such a big part of the fabric of my life – it was my version of Miss America.” Independent

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