Sylvie's Love: A Retro Romance

Sylvie's Love follows Sylvie in 1957 summertime Harlem. She works at the register of her father's record store but dreams of working in television. Robert, a struggling saxophonist, spots her through the window and their attraction begins. This love story follows its many predecessors in its not as easy at it looks, life will get in the way of their love.

Eugene Ashe writes and directs an ode to classic love stories with gorgeous period piece costumes and a soundtrack of hits. The story has the familiar love story elements but has something we haven't seen enough: two black leads.

Normally black centered films have an emotional drama or tragedy plotline but this one is full of charm. Tessa Thompson is the perfect Sylvie, she is both innocent and worldly in a world full of possibilities. Thompson is a sight of elegance that have you intrigued from the beginning.

Sylvie is engaged with her husband away in Korea and she's waiting for him to come back. Robert is a disruption in her life, but they form a bond over music and passion that turns into an affair. In true La La Land fashion, Robert gets an opportunity to go to Paris with his band and Sylvie declines his invitation to join.

After a five year gap they are reunited outside a theater where she happens to have an extra ticket. Their bond is still strong even after the passing of time. The only difference this time is that Sylvie is now a mother and has gotten her dream job as an assistant to a producer.

The film moves at a very leisurely pace that make the first part feel like a separate movie from where they pick up their relationship. This long amount of time we spend with the characters feels like a luxury as we se them operate in the world and fully develop. Sylvie and Robert have undeniable chemistry and are fantastic in all their scenes together. At times there feels like there is some unnecessary scenes that do not add to their love story.

Sylvie's Love is a soulful film that feels like everything La La Land couldn't accomplish with its characters. Ashe resurrects the old-fashioned Hollywood melodrama but reimagines it as a black love story that makes it feel new.