Festivals, Film
Jun 21, 2012

LAFF: MIDDLE OF NOWHERE

Press Pass LA got to be on the red carpet and see many of the films debuting at the LA Film Festival this week. One that surely hits home for any audience member is Middle of Nowhere. A film about love, resentment, self-discovery and hurt all wrapped into one. What happens when love takes you places you never thought you would go? When Ruby’s husband, Derek, is sentenced to eight years in a California prison, she drops out of medical school to maintain her marriage and focus on her husband’s safety while he is serving time in a state facility. Ruby (Emayatzy Corinealdi) is a very loyal character- missing work shifts to get a phone call a day from the man she loves and traveling two hours each way by bus to visit Derek whom she can’t even kiss during visits. Ruby is later faced with some hard decisions due to her husband’s actions. Does she stay true and stick by her man after he betrays her trust and his time is extended? Or does she take her own path- find a life for herself and discover the unknown. Ava DuVernay’s (creator of the film) elegant and emotionally inspiring debut portrays the universal dilemma of how a woman maintains herself as she commits to loving and supporting someone through hardship. DuVernay had the opportunity of screening her film in front of a festival audience, as it premiered at Sundance earlier this year. She received the award of Best Director at that event, and she is the first African-American to win said prize. Middle of Nowhere is slated for a limited theatrical release in October. Check out the trailer.