The trailer of Oscar winner Barry (Moonlight) Jenkins’ new film, an adaptation of James Baldwin’s novel “If Beale Street Could Talk,” was released today, the estimable author’s 94th birthday.
Photo: Winning Best Picture Oscar
“For me, August 2nd has always been a day to pay tribute, so… a teaser of what’s to come. Happy Birthday, Jimmy,” Jenkins tweeted on Thursday morning.
The tale follows a Harlem pregnant woman, Tish (Kiki Layne), whose lover Fonny (Stephan James) is falsely accused of rape. When Tish finds out she is pregnant while Fonny is in prison, she races to exonerate him, assisted by her family and lawyer.
“There are days when you wonder what your role is in this country, and what your future is in it,” a voiceover by Baldwin says in the trailer. “The things that tormented me the most were the very things that connected me to all the people who were alive.”
Jenkins’ Pastel company, Brad Pitt’s Plan B, and Megan Ellison’s Annapurna Pictures, which is also financing the film, are producers.
The film will receive its world premiere at the Toronto Film Fest in September and will be released on November 30 by Annapurna.
