One of the biggest Oscar contenders fresh from Cannes buzz, Loving, has released its first trailer, right in the middle of high racial tensions in the United States. Capitalizing off the current renewal in discussion about race relations in America, Focus Features debuted a powerful and emotional look at the 1960s period piece. The studio previously released a short clip and poster in May.
Loving follows the true story of Richard (Joel Edgerton) and Mildred Loving (Ruth Negga), who brought the case of interracial marriage to the Supreme Court in 1967 where it was overturned. The trailer gives a brief overview of their story, including how they met, their attempted marriage and their subsequent struggle to beat back the racist heritage inherent in American traditions. Director Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter, Midnight Special) tries very hard to pull at your heartstrings in the trailer, and he ultimately succeeds at moving the audience and connecting with the current emotions surrounding race relations that are still relevant today.
Acquiring an awards-friendly release, Loving will hit theaters on November 4 in limited release and November 11 in wide release. Watch the first trailer below.