Sylvie’s Love Movie Review

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Released for Streaming on Amazon Prime – Dec. 23

“Sylvie’s Love” is a throwback to the mid 1960’s, into a era of hot jazz and warm hearts The Black culture shown on the screen is infused with a love of music, family, and pop culture. In this arrangement, the story touches on love found, then lost, and then found again. But only for a while… It is like a jazz cover of “La-La Land”, in a different key and with slowed-down tempo.

Sylvie (played by Tessa Thompson) is single girl living in New York. She works at her dad’s record store. She meets Robert (played by Nnamdi Asomugha) who is a sax player in a small jazz combo. He starts to work in the store, because the gigs do not pay that much. Sylvie is engaged to a man from a well-to-do family. However, Robert pursues Sylvie, and does not dissuade him at all. Sylvie tell all of her fears and dreams to her close cousin named Mona (played by Aja Naomi King).

Sylvie and Robert have a wonderful time together, and Sylvie thinks that she might have to take a different path in her life. Robert’s quartet finds a new manager, and they get a premier stint at a really fine club. The trouble is that the new gig is in Paris. Robert wants to have Sylvie come off with him to Paris. But cannot leave her family, and she cannot break her engagement. She also does not tell Robert that she is carrying his child. Such an awkward situation to be in!

Several years later, Sylvie has married and her husband Lacy (played by Alano Miller) knows of Sylvie’s past. As they raise the child, he gets promotions at work so they can live comfortably. But Sylvie talks her way to a job helping run a TV program at a network. Her job is just as important to her as her family. Lacy is moving up in the business world and Sylvia is making a mark on her show.

Robert comes back to New York to record a new record. He just happens to meet Sylvie. Mona is busy working for a Civil Rights group and she does not make to a concert. Sylvie is waiting for her and sees Robert again. Some old emotions are stirred up. Robert does not want to be a burden on Sylvie and her new married life. But luck (and hormones) come back front and center.  Robert quits his quartet and Sylvie breaks up with Lacy. Robert finds out about his daughter.

But when musical moods change, Robert finds out that he is no longer able to make a decent living. Sylvie is able to be an important TV producer and can still raise a little girl. Robert does not want to be burden (again) and be goes off to Detroit to get a gig in Motown Records. But he has been given some very wrong advice from an old pal. Robert has no future in the soul music business. He tells Sylvie that he will not return and he will settle for what he has – a job at factory. Sylvie knows that Robert has his heart set on music and would never be happy with anything less. But then she finds out that he is making cars, not tunes…

“Sylvie’s Love” is a nice story told with a lot of heart. There are some parallels to a movie like “La-La Land”, since both are about two people involved in a long on-again, off again relationship. But with this movie the setting in the early 60’s gives it a warm feeling of nostalgia. There are no great truths revealed here, but just a display of on-key acting ability and a well-played plot line.

Tessa Thompson is a very talented actor who can show a fragile emotional side, as well as a strong powerful aspect of Sylvie’s life. She goes from being a harshly-disciplined young woman to a professional TV producer who is at the top of her game. Nnamdi Asomugha is not only an equal to Tessa in this movie. He plays this role so that he makes you feel each and every heartache that happens to Robert.  Pretty amazing to consider that Nnamdi had an earlier career as an NFL star!

“Sylvie’s Love” is a powerful drama about having love and dealing with loss, and seeing that life can sometimes bring your dreams back to you.

Released for Streaming on Amazon Prime – Dec. 23