I’m a woman, phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, that’s me.
This charming directorial debut from Channing Godfrey Peoples establishes her as one to watch. Set in Peoples’ hometown, Fort Worth, Texas, Miss Juneteenth portrays a personal and thoughtful exploration of black womanhood in a society where the odds are stacked against them.
The film follows a single mother and former winner of the coveted Miss Juneteenth pageant, Turquoise Jones (Nicole Beharie), as she fights for her teenage daughter Kai’s (Alexis Chikaeze) chance to follow in her footsteps. Despite not achieving much success beyond her own pageant win, Turquoise believes the prize, a scholarship to any historically black university, is Kai’s best shot at rising above her station.
The pageant forms part of the annual Juneteenth celebrations; a holiday commemorating June 19th, 1865, the day slaves in Texas were freed two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. In the wake of international protests against racial injustice, and continued civil unrest in America, this film certainly feels like a timely reverberation of the Black Lives Matter movement. Written and directed by a black woman, about the black female experience – this picture is steeped in honesty and nuance rendering it an essential watch.
In an interview with Variety, Peoples said: “Thematically in the film, we’re talking about freedom and what freedom means for Black people. And here we are in 2020, still really navigating what freedom means for Black people — and that’s our freedom to survive and to be able to walk down the street or to be in our homes, and really to live,” she continues. “But I am trying to be as hopeful as possible in this moment because I’ve seen more Black voices and Black stories being amplified. And I think that that’s entirely important, so that we can see and we can hear more voices that speak to the humanity of Black people in this country.”
In preparation for the leading role, Nicole Beharie flew from New York to Texas and immersed herself in the community, working in a bar just as her character does. The result is a performance drenched in authenticity and grace. Beharie, who was also raised by a single mother, conveys dignified strength whilst putting her dreams on hold to get her daughter through the expensive pageant process. The poem ‘Phenomenal Woman’ by Maya Angelou is a recurring motif which perfectly encapsulates Beharie’s character. Turquoise insists Kai performs the poem in the talent segment of the competition, just as she did when she won in 2004. The poem has come to represent female empowerment and holds special cultural significance within the black female community.
The relationship between Turquoise and Kai is the narrative’s driving force and it is the smaller moments of intimacy such as play fighting and dancing which are the most rewarding. Of course, their endearing dynamic is still strained by the predictable forces of boys, fashion, and misaligned dreams. Stories about mother-daughter relationships are not uncommon but whilst the narrative toes a familiar line, Miss Juneteenth sets itself apart with an air of sincerity and well-crafted moments of quiet.
The Verdict
Overall, Miss Juneteenth is a heartbreakingly honest portrait of disappointment and resilience. Whilst the story-line is somewhat unremarkable, the cinematography and raw performances make it a truly memorable experience. The dust roads and velvety soundtrack create an air of timelessness, whilst Kai’s technology habits and dance routines bring it sharply into the present day, creating a unique blend of tradition and modernity. A timely celebration of black culture and strength in the face of adversity, this is exactly the film 2020 needed.
Rating: 8/10
Words by Tara Fair