Aggravated by his grandfather’s rules, Langston is determined to find a way to get home to his mother. Along the way, Langston sets out on an unforgettable and inspirational journey of faith, redemption, healing and forgiveness.
“The movie is a lot about healing and the reconciliation in the family – and how we can lift each other up,” said Forest Whitaker. “It’s an important message of taking forgiveness to the next level.”
Angela Bassett echoed a similar sentiment, and said a film with forgiveness at its core is “very needed in this day and age.”
Black Nativity creates an emotional journey through music by blending gospel, hip-hop, soul and pop thanks in large part to the musical score by singer/musician Raphael Saadiq. Helping to bring Saadiq’s music to life with their performances are powerhouse singers Jennifer Hudson and Mary J. Blige. Nasir Jones and Tyrese Gibson – who gives a strong performance in the film – help round out the cast.
For older and younger generations who may be unfamiliar with the original play – the film’s director, Kasi Lemmons (Eve’s Bayou) describes Black Nativity as an “homage to Langston Hughes.”
“There’s going to be a lot of our generation who’ve never heard of Langston Hughes, and won’t be aware of him until this movie,” said Gibson. “I feel honored to be a part of his legacy and what he stood for.”
Along with honoring Langston Hughes’ legacy, Black Nativity promises to be a musical event with a message for the whole family.
