The Photograph is a simple love story, the kind that flows easy.
When famed photographer Christina Eames unexpectedly dies, she leaves her estranged daughter Mae Morton (Issa Rae) hurt, angry and full of questions. When a photograph tucked away in a safe-deposit box is found, Mae finds herself on a journey delving into her mother's early life and ignites a powerful, unexpected romance with a rising-star journalist, Michael Block (LaKeith Stanfield).
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Mae, the daughter of a successful photographer, Christiana finds a picture of her and her late mum in a box she inherited. Michael, the journalist finds this same picture at Isaac's house during an interview with him post hurricane Katrina. The events afterwards seems fated as Michael and Mae meet over Christina's works. The two eventually date each other and Michael breaks the news to Mae about applying for a job in London which was a shaky start to the relationship. Michael avoided Mae and didn't return her calls.
The backstory is that of Christina who left her lover Isaac to go chase her photography dreams in New York. She leaves without telling Issac only to come back three months later to find Isaac already married to someone else. She goes back again four years later with her daughter Mae and runs into Isaac while she was leaving. Isaac gives her a ride to the bus station but is too scared to ask if Mae was his daughter. Present day Mae remembers this meeting as she looks at the picture of her and her mother from that day. She reads the letter her mother wrote her and goes to her hometown to look for Isaac.
She meets Issac at his home and reveals herself as Christiana's daughter, his daughter while she hands him his own letter from Christina. He tells Mae he suspected she was his daughter years back but was afraid to ask because he had a new family. The two get along well and Mae stays over. Michael comes back to the home of Isaac and is surprised to see Mae and find out she was Isaac's daughter. The two lovebirds reconnect and Michael breaks the news he got accepted for the job at London. Both were disappointed and Mae says the long distance is impractical. Michael moves to London and Mae sends an invitation for a Kendrick Lamar concert after she sees a video of her mum say she wished she was more loving to people. They both meet up and agree to make things work despite the distance after Mae confesses her feelings.
**This is an easy story, deviod of drama, the type of love that's just natural with no overly dramatic issues. Some people called the movie boring because of this but must love stories come with some sort of conflict every time? I don't think so. Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield did such a good job. The chemistry was effortless and beautiful to watch. It was interesting seeing Issa Rae in this role as opposed to the awkward black girl persona I know her for. I particularly love how black love was represented with such softness unlike the regular love/conflict plot. I also like how Michael chased his passion and at the same time, his woman which is a better version of Mae's parents love story.
Overall, The Photograph is a good one you'd watch on a Saturday night over a glass of wine when you're in your feels. I give it a 7/10 rating.
