Beyond the lights is a hidden gem because most people don’t ever think of this movie when we talk about black love, or they’ve just never heard of it at all. It premiered in September 2014 at the Toronto International Film festival and was later released in November. It stared Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Nate Parker, and Danny Glover. It was even later nominated for a best original song with the Academy.
It is centered around a new artist, Noni Jean who was now the hottest thing and on rise for superstardom. The only downside is that she was extremely unhappy with life, and it led to her trying to commit suicide after a show by jumping off a hotel balcony.
Kaz Nicol, the young police officer, is standing by and can talk her down from the ledge and urges her to get help. However, her mom and her team told everyone that he saved her and that she was drunk, and about to fall.
Throughout the movie Noni and Kaz formed a relationship that wasn’t good for business. He was just a deputy that was not used to or did not even want to be in the limelight like that. I think the dynamic really showed how being famous has it downsides and it is important to have people close to you to fight for you.
Their relationship led to them getting away on trip to Mexico after an emotional performance. While there she realized she needed to change her music style and start being the kid of artists she has always wanted to be.
However, he team found her location and ran to bring her back while Kaz tried to convince her to stay with him. But the pressure from her former life influenced her decision to go home and Kaz began to focus more on his career which could be in politics. In the end she was able to start making she actually wanted to and Kaz was able to see how much she had stood by what she said in Mexico.
Honorary Scene: https://youtu.be/J0G-jXdYCNI
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