After playing a neglectful, demon-possessed mother saveAndra Day returns to screen as more protective mother show forgivenessthe directorial debut of artist Titus Kaphar, is scheduled to be released in theaters on October 18.
In the film, based on Kafar’s life experiences, Day plays Elsa, a singer-songwriter and the wife of Andre Holland’s Tarel Rodin, who A respected painter and father is forced to face open wounds. Later, Rodin’s estranged father LaRon (John Earl Jelks), who is recovering, unexpectedly reappears and meets Rodin’s mother Joyce (Anjaniu Ellis- At the urging of Taylor (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), they try to repair their relationship.
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, and at the Los Angeles premiere on Thursday, Day and hollywood reporter On her “bucket list” experience working with Holland.
“I miss him so much right now; I call him my best friend,” Day said of Holland. Holland did not walk the red carpet for the event, which was held at Gagosian, where Kaffar’s paintings for the film were on display.
“I have to tell you, it’s on my bucket list to work with him [item] Because of him, I always tell people, he’s your favorite actor’s favorite actor. He’s like the Jazmine Sullivan of acting, and everyone is like, ‘So this is actually the best singer.’ He’s actually the best actor,” Day continued. “He’s just incredible. Working with him was a great lesson in understanding the nuances and how to be so understated and yet have such a loud voice. He’s a genius to work with.
Holland spent three months studying with Caffar in his Connecticut studio, learning how to paint so that he could become a credible artist. This is a fact that does not surprise old friends, BMF Star Russell Hornsby attended the premiere.
“Andre studied his art deeply,” Hornsby told THR. “He’s very loyal, and it shows in the work he does. A lot of times, we don’t get the chance to delve into that as actors, and he understands the value of getting opportunities and really challenging yourself and forcing yourself to peel back a lot of things that are hidden in you. The layers beneath him show his true side.
For her part, Day also spent six days after filming working with composer Jherek Bischoff on the film’s score and wrote the featured track “Bricks.”
“The story of the song is that forgiveness is a hard-won battle. The thing I get the most from these characters is their ability to create a reality for themselves and their children and create a future they’ve never experienced,” Day said . “When you move away from a history of abuse, you’re able to create an environment of peace, joy and prosperity, and that’s beautiful. That’s what I was thinking when I wrote the lyrics.
Kaffar admitted that he didn’t have an ideal cast for his debut feature, mostly because he didn’t set out to make a movie but instead created a series of drawings based on childhood memories he’d been writing about. Start trying to write a script. Describing the painting process as “cathartic” and “healing,” Kapal said directing marked another step in that journey.
“It made me realize I’m not done yet,” he told THR. “I thought I had done my job. But on set, watching Andre go through what I went through, I felt a compassion for him that I couldn’t feel for myself.
“When I saw him going through this, I just, I was devastated,” Kafar added. “I started crying. I was sobbing. I’m not one to sit around and cry. But I realized in that moment that I still had a lot to go through. There was a lot of healing to do.
