X
- 2020
- PG-13
- Amazon Studios
- 1 h 54 m
- 2020
- PG-13
- Amazon Studios
- 1 h 54 m
Summary In Sylvie’s Love, the jazz is smooth and the air sultry in the hot New York summer of 1957. Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha), a saxophonist, spends late nights playing behind a less-talented but well-known bandleader, as member of a jazz quartet. Sylvie (Tessa Thompson), who dreams of a career in television, spends her summer days helping around...
Directed By: Eugene Ashe
Written By: Eugene Ashe
- 2020
- PG-13
- Amazon Studios
- 1 h 54 m
- 2020
- PG-13
- Amazon Studios
- 1 h 54 m
Sylvie's Love
74
6.8
Summary In Sylvie’s Love, the jazz is smooth and the air sultry in the hot New York summer of 1957. Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha), a saxophonist, spends late nights playing behind a less-talented but well-known bandleader, as member of a jazz quartet. Sylvie (Tessa Thompson), who dreams of a career in television, spends her summer days helping around...
Directed By: Eugene Ashe
Written By: Eugene Ashe
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 25 Critic Reviews
74
76% Positive
19 Reviews
19 Reviews
24% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 25 Critic Reviews
74
76% Positive
19 Reviews
19 Reviews
24% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Sylvie’s Love is heartbreaking and heart melting in almost equal measure, a film about professional disappointment and the importance of timing as much as it’s about love. I haven’t been so emotionally wrecked sitting alone at a festival movie since Brooklyn. Sylvie’s Love is damn near perfect
Ashe is using a familiar, long-derided film genre both affectionately and critically to explore the gleaming surfaces of life as well as the anguish that lies beneath.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 20 User Ratings
6.8
55% Positive
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
40% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
5% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 20 User Ratings
6.8
55% Positive
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
40% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
5% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Happy New Year, Streamers! I hope that 2021 gives you everything that 2020 surely did not deliver. For my own benefit, I hope the movie theaters and streaming services are full of movies that make me break my popcorn machine. While 2020 was light on memorable releases, it did end with at least one solid streaming option, Sylvie’s Love. The movie is described as “when a young woman meets an aspiring saxophonist in her father’s record shop in 1950s Harlem, their love ignites a sweeping romance that transcends changing times, geography, and professional success.” Let’s see if this is worth watching in the new year.
Sylvie’s Love succeeds in many aspects. First, the set and costume design are pretty remarkable. It’s like the viewer steps straight into a time machine and popped out into the streets of 1962 New York City. Next, while the love story and employment storylines may be average and typical, the acting and writing make quite the difference. Throughout the movie, each scene has a weight and air to it that grounds it. The movie moves effortlessly from hot and heavy to soft and saccharine. There are lines that are as insightful and poignant as they can be stinging. Tessa Thompson stars as Sylvie and continues her trail of above average roles. Nothing to be surprised by here though, especially not her slightly annoying voice. Opposite her, we have former NFL Superstar and Kerry Washington’s beaux, Nnamdi Asomugha. While still pretty new to cinema, I’m glad that Nnamdi was able to get a starring role because he was smooth as an aged cognac. Individually, they succeed; but the two together makes a star pairing. The producers, writers and director, Eugene Ashe, came together and painted a beautiful and classy creation.
This isn’t always a fairytale but with Sylvie’s Love we see what it means to sacrifice for love. Now, I’m sappy and I know this, but Black love is a wonderful thing to behold and Sylvie’s Love has it. This is truly an elegant delight to watch for you hopeless romantics out there. Nnamdi and Tessa’s chemistry is palpable and definitely worth the watch. Grab a big box of fresh popcorn and watch the novelettish film unfold.
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Between the scorching chemistry of leads Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha and the glorious mid-century outfits, hair, décor and cars on display, Sylvie’s Love is a delectable valentine.
With one slight wobble toward the conclusion, Ashe’s screenplay is terrific at letting its characters speak and act honestly: His dialogue is heartfelt and realistic. “Sylvie’s” is a love letter to the delights of a well-told love story.
Plotting and pacing asides, Sylvie’s Love is a rich and graceful picture in passages.
When the spell gets broken, temporarily or otherwise, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the craft and care of this affectionate reclamation and still feel that all the swooning that heaven allows is almost, but not quite, enough.
The film never finds the spark that would imbue the love affair at its center with a sense of passion or urgency.
I enjoyed this film. I thought the two main characters had good chemistry and I enjoyed the music played. It has a good sense of atmosphere throughout. Its a bit sad at times and uplifting at other times but its a thoughtful watch and I'd recommend it, yes.
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Despite the great chemistry between the leads, Sylvie's love is let down by its anemic screenplay with an almost monotone pacing that never quite finds any interesting rythmn. It hits enough points to pass the basics of an onscreen romantic entanglement, but the dramatic stakes feel quite low and the superb supporting cast is sadly underused. Nonetheless it's a decent production that's worth a watch if you're a fan of this genre.
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This is dedicated to Diahann, Nancy and Doris, so if you recognize those names, you’ll know what kind of movie to expect (last names are Carroll, Wilson, Day). It harkens back to the 50s/60s melodramas that revolve around a determined woman, challenging romantic relationships and frustrated emotions. In this case, it’s Tessa Thompson’s movie. She plays a woman helping run her father’s record store, but aspiring to work in the new world of television (it’s 1957). A jazz sax player (Nnamdi Asomugha) wanders in looking for a job and that begins her foray into love. Considering the genre, complications arise to challenge their relationship. The chemistry between the leads is strong and Thompson embraces the steely determination required for the role. The art direction echoes the look of the films to reflect the period (yes, there’s even a pivotal scene in the rain). Ultimately, the predictable love story is somewhat compelling, but it’s the style of this period throwback that’s most appealing.
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A period film, in every sense of the word, but surprising because its lead characters and most of its cast are black.
Sumptuously shot, Sylvie's Love is an elegant, romantic and musical film.
Without a doubt I must admit that in all its production and visual aspects, it's a delight, but perhaps that same level of detail would not have hurt the script at all.
But there's a certain point that I liked, and that is that the film, although it touches elements on racism, it doesn't root its plot in it, nor does it make it something crucial for the development of the story, and that's something the producers and directors should start to explode.
Not all high-end films should focus on showing the Black experience in an ultra-realistic tone about its difficulties, and I say this because the goal isn't about disguising the situation in any way, but about exploring other variants, and ultimately Sylvie's Love is more focused on the romance, that in the social criticism, and there's nothing wrong with that.
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Awards
Black Reel Awards for Television
• 1 Win & 6 Nominations
Black Reel Awards
• 6 Nominations
Image Awards (NAACP)
• 1 Win & 5 Nominations
