14 Days of Black Love 2025
One lesson from film school that has never left me is that in order to truly understand the process of good filmmaking, you have to actually enjoy films. The statement seems evident, but the concept of enjoyment is more relative than you’d think. Anyone can watch films and generally like the experience; but only a selective few actually enjoy the process of watching stories unfold on screen. Any story, any language, any genre. If it actually made it to the big screen, I think it should be seen. I know, I’m unhinged.
The following screening list was intended to be a reintroduction of the 14 Days of Black Love series that blends the romantic themes of early February with the celebration of Black History Month. I scoured the internet for fourteen films that I hadn’t seen (and, in some instances, hadn’t even heard of) that aligned these two fundamental elements. And then, I watched them. Or rather, I enjoyed them. Every. Single. One.
Even when I’m not in love with the entire finished product, I still manage to find a redeemable quality in any film I watch despite Rotten Tomatoes telling me, “Don’t bother.” But I know not everyone wants to dedicate several hours to movies they think might suck. So, I did the hard work for you.
Read, maybe watch, but most of all, enjoy.
Claudine:
A single mother of six in 1970’s Harlem finds love and fights for it despite exhaustion, financial disparity, and a government system actively working against her.
Claudine (1974) is one part love story, one part emotional drama, and one part social justice critique; all parts combine to make a sweet and fulfilling watch! I was initially put off by the forcefulness of Roop’s pursuit of Claudine, but considering the time period and the undeniable charm of James Earl Jones, he won me over at the same pace that he did his romantic interest. This film felt genuine, raw, and unapologetic in its depiction of single motherhood, the predatory welfare system, and the struggle to rise to the occasion of father and provider for Black men during a time when all roads seemed to lead to failure or fraud.
I was particularly struck by Roop’s arc of fighting to keep his freedom from a system he knows doesn’t work for him or the family he is growing to love, even at the cost of potentially losing it all for the sake of the principle. Add a sprinkle of fear of failure to be a surrogate father to six kids, in addition to having to provide for three of his own.
It’s a powerful watch and essential viewing for romantics of every era.
This film isn’t available to stream, but it is available to purchase via the Criterion Collection.
Mahogany:
An aspiring fashion designer with dreams of grandeur is forced to question if her passions are worth the sacrifice of true love and self identity.
Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams are go-getters giving us butterflies in Mahogany (1975). What I loved most about this movie was the exploration of the difficulties that can present themselves when two ambitious and headstrong people try to come together and balance their careers with their undeniable connection. This love story isn’t wrapped neatly in a bow, but if you hang on for the ride, you’ll find your heart fluttering alongside theirs.
The only point of constructive criticism that I could give to the narrative is the attempt to downplay our leading lady’s aspirations as frivolous in comparison to the community work being done by her romantic counterpart. Having dreams that reach beyond your hometown isn’t a crime, and those who dare to have them shouldn’t be treated like they’re turning their backs on their communities. Showing what’s possible for a small town girl with big dreams is just as important as advocating for the rights and protections of your neighborhood.
Similar to Claudine, this film blends pertinent political and class issues of the time throughout the love story, giving it the extra social relevance to make this essential viewing in my book. Also, fans of Psycho (1960) will get a kick out of another killer performance from Anthony Perkins.
Rent on: Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV
Purple Rain:
A self-absorbed budding musician threatens to tank his own career before it kicks off until a life altering experience reconnects him to the power of music.
Prince packs a powerful performance as The Kid in Purple Rain (1984), leading us through a winding love story that goes beyond romantic love and expands into a love of the art of music. Describing this tale as unconventional would be putting it as lightly as humanly possible. This semi-autobiographical take on the star's rise to fame is one part dramatic love story, one part live performance showcase, and all parts Prince.
The romantic love and rivalry elements to the story almost seemed to get in the way of the real story, but the trajectory of The Kid’s journey toward genuine love for his art and the collaborative and connective nature of music more than makes up for that blunder. The way that the theme of “like father, like son” is explored here will leave your heart on the floor, guaranteed.
Watch and bask in the beaming presence of Prince!
Rent on: Amazon Prime
The Inkwell:
When a neurodiverse teen boy is forced to spend two weeks on the coast with his extended family, he learns to love and embrace the power of his unique identity and its effect on others.
Larenz Tate shows us the charm in being a renaissance man at sixteen as Drew in The Inkwell (1994). There was so much to unpack in the two week trip I spent alongside the Tate family; political and class divides within the Black community, the deeply rooted misconceptions of Black males in therapy, the challenges of raising a neurodivergent child, and the societal and familial pressures that come with being a teenage boy in 1970s America.
Though the resolution to this film might leave your eyebrows raised (Let’s never applaud our children for being molested by soon-to-be divorcees, PLEASE.), there is so much value in Drew’s overall arc and the unique perspectives showcased throughout this film that it’s definitely worth the watch. The aspect of this film that I connected with most was the proof of the healing that can come out of therapy. Phyllis Yvonne Stickney’s performance as Dr. Wade was definitely a sight to behold. Her approach to Drew’s sessions felt like a warm hug to the soul. Watch and heal, friends.
Rent on: YouTube
The Watermelon Woman:
A queer filmmaker sets her sights on uncovering the hidden history of an obscure Black actress from the 1930s, finding surprising parallels between her life and the life of her uncredited muse.
Cheryl Dunye gives us food for thought that’s not always as easy to digest as we’d hope, playing herself in The Watermelon Woman (1996). This mixed narrative and documentary style film feels raw and authentic, showcasing the creative process of a filmmaker with a unique connection to her subject. Cheryl’s character is so genuine throughout, making her so fun to watch as she aligns her life with the legend of the Watermelon Woman.
The discussion around interracial relationships, particularly in the queer community, is really striking. The question of intentional love versus fetishization felt so pertinent, especially when comparing it to the present day of the film and the era of The Watermelon Woman. Could interracial queer love really have existed in the 1930s filmmaking scene? And if it did, should we champion it as a unique dissent during that period of history or should we consider it predatory by design? Cherly seems to ask the audience, “What do you think?” without it feeling like a trick question.
I give her all the flowers for forcing us to actually think about it!
Rent on: Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV
Deliver Us from Eva:
When a group of disgruntled brothers-in-law band together to set up a professional player with their meddling sister-in-law, they unintentionally introduce the pair to their perfect match.
Gabrielle Union and LL Cool J are absolutely swoon worthy in their tit for tat romance in Deliver Us from Eva (2003). This classic romantic comedy feels almost textbook in its approach to narrative structure, but that doesn’t take away from its charm. I loved the juxtaposition between our leads; Eva, the hard-hearted eldest sister with a secret soft side, and Ray, the womanizer rumored to unlock the key to any woman’s heart only to accidentally unlock his own in the process. I think what we get in this film is the perfect example of how sometimes opposites do actually attract, and how love really does have the power to change people.
The only point of the film that I absolutely feel the need to contest is the assumption that the audience is automatically on the side of the brothers-in-law from the beginning. Where they might have seen a grating, needy sibling to their partners, I saw a woman with intense ambition that cared so deeply for her sisters that she refused to let them settle for less even after they’d been married or engaged to be engaged. If anything, I think that might make this the perfect watch with a hetero male significant other. They’ll definitely be invested from start to finish.
Stream on: Starz
Rent on: Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV
An Oversimplification of Her Beauty:
A filmmaker compiles snippets of a love story with his current infatuation as it unfolds, providing context for his shortcomings by creating a comprehensive map of his experiences with love over the course of his life thus far.
Terence Nance creates a love story that transcends the traditional “will they, won’t they” concept of romance in his film An Oversimplification of Her Beauty (2012). This film is likely the most collaborative and creative exhibition of a love story I’ve ever experienced. It feels like a long poem or rumination on the concept of love from the perspective of someone realizing for the first time that they are the reason it won’t come to fruition for themselves. It’s extremely self aware and focuses less on the love story at the forefront of this narrative, but all the facets of life experience that inform the approach our lead takes when trying to win this particular girl.
There was so much to love about this film, but what stood out most was the incorporation of his original short film How Would You Feel? (2006) that was a one-sided exposition of the relationship between him and his love interest that was later recontextualized with her input in An Oversimplification of Her Beauty (2012). Not only do we get two films in one, but we get tangible evidence that it is possible to go back to your own prior work with clarity and improve it.
Please. Watch. This. Movie.
Rent on: YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV
Beyond the Lights:
When a rising pop star is pushed to the brink, the police officer who saves her life inspires her to reconnect with herself and her passion for music on her own terms.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Nate Parker give us an inside look at the healing that can come from a genuine connection between two humans, regardless of their walks of life, in Beyond the Lights (2014). I absolutely adored this film for the way it handled the complexities of life in the spotlight and living up to the expectations of your parents. What appears so glamorous and untouchable from the audience could actually be so fragile and delicate up close. What was once a childhood fantasy can reveal itself as never truly having been your own dream in the first place. This film gives fans of any artist the opportunity to empathize with the people they look up to but will never truly know. And it also gives regular people an invitation to question if their ambitions are truly their own.
What stood out most to me in this film was the mother-daughter relationship between our lead, Noni, and her “mom-ager” Macy Jean. At its core, this relationship is built on a need to survive and thrive despite the circumstances they began with, but over time we see a shift in pursuing what is necessary for survival and what is taken because of the people from the past that we’re still trying to prove wrong. It’s truly powerful!
Stream on: Tubi, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, The CW, Amazon Prime
Rent on: YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV
Moonlight:
The life of a young gay African-American man unfolds in chapters, showing the distinctive identities he embodies during each stage as he learns to accept himself for who he is.
In Moonlight (2016), Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders, and Alex R. Hibbert create a well-rounded guide through one young man’s life that will likely stick with you through generations. This film is a masterpiece of cinematic storytelling, not only because of its visual beauty, but also because of its structural uniqueness.
Evolution is a natural part of the human experience and it’s rare that we get the chance as an audience to see that unfold from the perspective of personal identity. Who you are and how you are perceived definitely changes over the course of a lifetime, and giving us three distinctly different characters that embody the life experience of one man is really something to behold.
The most powerful point of the film was the last meeting we see between our lead, who is Black at this point, and his mother, Paula. Those who have been the children or dependants of individuals suffering from drug addiction are no strangers to the yearning for an apology that rarely ever comes. Here, that monumental release is given to all who watch it. Thank you, Barry Jenkins.
Stream on: CINEMAX
Rent on: Amazon Prime, Apple TV
The Weekend:
A female comedian trying to maintain a friendship with an old flame finds clarity and comeuppance during a weekend trip with him, his current girlfriend, and a handsome stranger.
In The Weekend (2018) Sasheer Zamata gives us awkwardness, brutal honesty, and romantic naivety as Zadie, laying bare every weird thought we’ve secretly had about breakups, romance, and friendship. The film presents the question of the viability of true friendship between exes and doesn’t hold back on a resounding “no.” As twisty, turny, and confusing as her arc was at times, I loved it because it felt so true to the character and lived experience.
I connected most deeply with her point of clarity about the unending “situationship” she’s been trapped in with her ex that ends in her calling him a “post office”. It was the most poignant analogy I had ever heard and I will now be referring to all of my own exes as such.
If you’re not really into awkward and dry humor, the jokes might not hit you as hard as they should, but if you’re among the awkward Black girls of the world, this one is a winner.
Stream on: PLEX, The CW
Rent on: Amazon Prime, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV
Waves:
After a young man commits a heinous crime, his family is forced to learn how to rise above his actions and reclaim their individuality and love for one another.
Taylor Russell, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry, and Sterling K. Brown come together to create a powerful performance of familial love in the aftermath of tragedy in Waves (2019). This film was a gripping example of what it looks like when striving for Black excellence and loving hard moves past the point of being constructive and becomes a one way street to deadly consequences. It also provides a unique look at the aftermath of a crime and how it affects everyone beyond the criminal. Through our journey alongside this family, we have the opportunity to see how our individual actions and approach to love has the capacity to affect everyone around us that we hold dear.
Taylor Russell’s performance was so moving. Her meekness upfront put her just far enough in the background that when she took the fore, she felt like she grew a little taller with every choice she made. For all the “little big” siblings out there, watch and feel truly seen.
Stream on: PLEX, Pluto TV
Rent on: Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV
The Lovebirds:
When a couple nearing the end of their relationship is roped into a murder, they race to uncover the mystery of the killing to clear their names, rekindling their connection in the process.
Issae Rae and Kumail Ali Nanjiani are both a grating and charming duo in The Lovebirds (2020). They have great chemistry as love interests and can riff off of each other for days which works well in this mad scramble to find justice for a random stranger and rekindle the love between each other. This movie truly felt like the actual approach of non-criminals forced to commit crimes, right down to a feeble attempt to smash a window. In that sense, I found it an extremely relatable and fun watch.
One of the most poignant points of the premise came down to a couple that forgot how to communicate with each other directly. There were many points of clarity for each of our main characters where they realized that all of the things they assumed about one another was wrong. It was a refreshing take on an age old concept - most issues can probably be resolved by communicating. Please, just talk to your partner.
While I didn’t find it groundbreaking, I do think this one is a guilty pleasure watch. Cozy up to your own lovebird and allow yourselves to laugh together for a while.
Stream on: Netflix
Rent on: Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV
Someone Great:
On her last night in New York City, a freshly single woman reflects on her long term relationship while trying to soak up her newfound freedom with her best friends.
Gina Rodrgiuez, Brittany Snow, and DeWanda Wise showcase the power of strong female bonds in the face of big change and personal growth in Someone Great (2019). This film takes an interesting approach to loss, grief, and individual development by allowing the audience to follow along in a highlights reel of the nine year relationship of our lead, Jenny, and her partner Nate (played by LaKeith Stanfield).
One of the most striking takeaways was the act of not only accepting an end that we might not feel ready for, but basking in the beauty of what it was when it was in full bloom. Jenny and Nate’s relationship felt so familiar in the sense that their genuinely happy times overshadowed their seemingly abrupt end. It is possible to outgrow our relationships, and even though it may hurt like hell in the moment that you realize it, by accepting it, you open yourself up to what’s possible for you in a new phase of life. And, realizing you’ve outgrown something doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth the experience.
Stream on: Netflix
Time:
Formerly incarcerated motivational speaker, Fox Rich, fights to free her husband from the chains of the justice system as his sixty year sentence approaches the twenty year mark.
Sibil Fox Richardson is a powerhouse in this testament to the power of love and faith in Time (2020). Her passion jumps off the screen as she shows us the long journey to the present moment, sharing recordings of her life as she raises her children and shares her experience to shine light on the pitfalls of the justice system.
What will likely stick with me for the rest of my life is the unyielding effort to keep their family together despite the circumstances for the length of time that they did. To see the active presence of a Black father despite being imprisoned, to see the insistence on connection between their children and their father even if only via a voice on the other end of a phone, to see the love that surrounded all of them over the course of twenty years, it’s something to behold. In Sibil’s own words, success is the best revenge. And this particular success is the sweetest I’ve ever seen.
Stream on: Amazon Prime
If you took my word for any of these films, I really want to know what you thought! Let me know in the comments below.
Until next time, read something, watch something, and write for your life!
About the Writer
Mercedes Khali is a WODC Co-Founder and the Writers Group Coordinator. She is a staff writer for the WODC Blog, heads the Reading on Writing column, and hosts the original WODC podcast, Script to Screen Podcast. She also co-produces the WODC original horror anthology podcast, A Bad Feeling Horror Podcast.