Medicine for Melancholy

2008

1h 28m

Drama

Romance

List

85%

40 Reviews

Tomatometer

65%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Micah (Wyatt Cenac), a passionate social activist, meets affluent professional Joanne (Tracey Heggins) at a party. After getting drunk together, they have a one-night stand. The morning after begins uncomfortably, but eventually romantic feelings develop between Micah and Joanne. As they converse more deeply, they realize they are separated by an array of political and philosophical differences and must decide if these factors are more important than their budding relationship.

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Critics Consensus

Blessed with clever dialogue and poignant observations of class and race, Medicine For Melancholy is a promising debut for director Barry Jenkins.

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david f

A nice low budget indie film about a couple hooking up in San Francisco that unfolds almost in real time.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Wiith an Oscar and a new movie just released I wanted to watch Barry Jenkins first movie. Taking place in San Francisco this modern "love" story portents great thing for Jenkins. The male lead, Wyatt Cenac, has been a featured actor on the Daily Show (I knew I knew him!)

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I wasn't sure if this was a movie about two people in a city, or about a city illustrated through two tourguides. Either way, it works very well. That the city is San Francisco makes all the difference for me. Micah has connected with a woman he can't walk away from, or more precisely, he can't let walk away from him. Jo goes from wary and reluctant to extend the one-night stand that just ended as the movie opens, to embracing a wonderful day and evening with him. Clearly, its a better day than she's used to having with her absent boyfriend. But Micah lets his opinions on race get in the way at times, which almost drives her away, since his unsolicited and uncharitable thoughts obviously spring from his unhappiness that she not only has a boyfriend, but he's white. I just criticized another movie for being low on substance, and this film doesn't have much going on other than what Micah and Jo experience, but you will get much more out of it. You'll get a taste of the S.F. housing anxiety of 2008, which has only worsened by leaps since then. You'll get beautiful desaturated photography, which changes frequently, and you'll get to watch Tracey Heggins smile, which is the most beautiful recommendation I can give.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

After an awkward one-night-stand neither of them can remember, Micah and Joanne get breakfast. Joanne, an introverted upper class black woman who shares an apartment rent free with her white boyfriend who is out of town, shows little interest for Micah and takes every chance she can to repel him. Micah, an extroverted middle/lower class black man finds himself searching for Joanne throughout San Francisco after she forgets her wallet on the cab ride home. Throughout the movie Micah and Joanne gradually become fonder of each other while at the same time challenging each other's way of viewing themselves as a minority in San Francisco. They view themselves as opposites in some ways, Micah feeling suppressed as a minority while Joanne feels as if society cannot define her. The polarities in perspectives of two minorities, use of bright lighting, and monochromatic picture makes for a personal, and thought provoking love story done in the most simplistic way. Not to mention Micah and Joanne are basically the only characters in the movie which makes for an intimate experience for the viewer.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Someone stole a great book title...

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Tender examination of a love affair is slowly-paced.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

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Barry Jenkins

Director

Wyatt Cenac

Micah

Tracey Heggins

Jo

Melissa Bisagni

Cassandra Jay

Brent Weinbach

Waiter

John Friedberg

Housing Rights Committee Member

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Joshua Land

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 17, 2011

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

The actors are effortlessly engaging.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 10, 2009

Full Review

Mick LaSalle

San Francisco Chronicle

Writer-director Barry Jenkins demonstrates a rare ability to communicate a state of mind through images.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 6, 2009

Full Review

Rudie Obias

Battleship Pretension

Medicine for Melancholy also shows how foreign films from Jean-Luc Godard and Wong Kar-Wai and indie movies from Richard Linklater have really influenced Jenkins’ style in later films.

Jun 20, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Much like Moonlight, Jenkins explores human beings who struggle with preconceived ideas of identity that are thrust upon them.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 5, 2022

Full Review

Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

...equally hints at Jenkins' influences and the idiosyncratic direction he will eventually head on his own.

Rated: 2.5/4

Nov 1, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

Micah (Wyatt Cenac), a passionate social activist, meets affluent professional Joanne (Tracey Heggins) at a party. After getting drunk together, they have a one-night stand. The morning after begins uncomfortably, but eventually romantic feelings develop between Micah and Joanne. As they converse more deeply, they realize they are separated by an array of political and philosophical differences and must decide if these factors are more important than their budding relationship.

Director: Barry Jenkins
Screenwriter: Barry Jenkins
Genre: Drama, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 5, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $110.9K
Runtime: 1h 28m

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