Miss Juneteenth

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Kimberly B I loved that the movie showed Turrquoise as a real person that remained true to herself. She did not let her past deter her desire for success for herself and her daughter. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/26/21 Full Review Nicholas C There was no acting in this movie. And the fact that rotten tomatoes had me, click an extra couple of clicks to get to this shows me that they are justice terrible as this movie. We only have so much time on this Earth. Don't waste your time with this movie. No acting nothing. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 05/16/24 Full Review Michael H Very well written and real. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/15/23 Full Review sarah g Quiet steady film with all around great acting. Should have gotten much more attention. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/20/23 Full Review Larry R Terrific acting. A story of freedom and resilience. real Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/20/23 Full Review Audience Member 'Juneteenth' is a celebration of the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas learned they were free - two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. 'Miss Juneteenth' is a film based around a beauty contest for teenagers marking the occasion. Turquoise Jones (Nicole Beharie) won the contest, but was unable to complete her reign due to getting knocked up with daughter Kai (Alexis Chikaeze). Fifteen years later - with an eye to the prize of a scholarship to an 'historically black' university or college - she pressures Kai to take part in the pageant, but is so distracted with Kai's sexy but bad-boy father; with her alcoholic, religious mother; and with just making ends meet, that she does not fully appreciate Kai's reluctance. It is unusual that a film centered around a beauty pageant contains no discussion of the 'cattle market' variety. Inevitably there *are* some racial politics ("There ain't no American dream for black folk") but the centre of the film is undoubtedly Turquoise's determination that Kai should enter the pageant as a means of securing her future. The relationship between mother and daughter is nicely portrayed: they may sometimes get on each other's nerves, but disputes never last long and usually end with smiles. This is an example of one of the film's main strengths: it could easily have descended into soap opera histrionics, but every time the viewer fears a scene is going to dissolve into tears and shouting, writer/director Channing Godfrey Peoples dials things back down to have her characters behaving like real people - full of faults, but for the most part good folk. In this she is aided by Beharie - her performance as the determined, realistic Turquoise is naturalistic and engaging. Chikaeze also does well - when she delivers her entry in the pageant's talent competition the viewer wants to stand up and cheer. Mischievously, I note that at a time when the Oscars are refusing to consider films that do not include a certain diversity of ethnic involvement, 'Miss Juneteenth' contains only one speaking role for a white actor (a grumpy shop assistant who appears in only two scenes). But for this viewer the important thing is whether or not a film is enjoyable - and this one certainly was. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Miss Juneteenth

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