As another Christmas Season comes to an end this year was very different from previous ones especially with the limitations that come with the entire world being in a Pandemic. This year looked a lot different for families across the world. Millions of people found themselves having virtual celebrations with their loved ones. The entire Holiday Season I was very intentional with making time to enjoy a little me time watching a plethora of Holiday Movies. While searching for my annual “Day After Christmas Movie” I ran across Sylvies Love on Amazon Prime Original Movies and from the look of the cover it immediately caught my attention. My disclaimer is that I absolutely love romance movies all of my life.
You can take a sneak peek at Sylvies Love Trailer:
The movie is set in the Summer of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s Harlem at a time when Jazz can be heard throughout the streets at local clubs and from the speakers of record players in homes. “Sylvies Love is from from writer-director Eugene Ashe transforms you into the past to romantic Harlem Nights.
Saxophone player Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha) walks into a record store owned by Sylvies (Tessa Thompson) family inquiring about their “help wanted” sign which eventually pans out to be a sign of destiny for their relationship. The plot is that Sylvie is engaged to a well to do man but she’s only marrying him out of obligation to marry well and not below her class. Robert is a man from what would be considered beneath her but he’s stolen her heart from the moment that he laid eyes on her through the record stores window. All it takes is one summer romance to change the course of her life.
LESSON ONE – LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT EXIST
It was apparent that from the very first time that Robert laid eyes on Sylvie through the front glass window as Sylvie helped a customer that he was in love at first sight. It was destiny that stepped in when Robert noticed the HELP WANTED sign and if you were not convinced there the deal is sealed when Sylvies Father, Mr. Johnson hires Robert immediately in spite of Sylvie saying it was simply a business prop.
LESSON 2 – A MAN KNOWS IF YOU’RE THE ONE IMMEDIATELY
As Robert walked up the street with a few of his band members and saw Sylvie sitting in her Father’s record store he knew immediately that she was the one that would steal his heart. Love can be tricky but I believe that when you truly have that internal feeling and desire thats beyond sexual its a different level of intimacy. Once Robert was hired he carefully watched Sylvie being very care to study her and patiently await the perfect opportunity to have that special moment with her. Robert eventually makes the decision over their short Summer Romantic Affair that he wants her to leave her life behind and go to Paris with him for a few years.
LESSON THREE – ALL THAT SPARKLES ISN’T GOLD
We find Sylvie in a web of obligation. Although its very apparent that her mother is more adamant about her marrying a well-to-do man. Sylvie was expected to marry in her social status class or above…never beneath. Robert would be considered beneath her. Sylvie makes the decision to marry her fiancée while she’s pregnant with Robert’s daughter which he is unaware of but 5 years later she finds herself stuck in his world and all of dreams put on hold. Sylvies husband was more focused on building his career while she remained the housewife.
LESSON FOUR – YOUR LIFE CAN ONLY BE FULFILLED WHEN YOU LIVE YOUR OWN TRUTH AND PURPOSE
Sylvies lifelong dream was to be an African American Television Producer. The idea that this role was not available at the beginning of this love story and how the shift takes place and we find Sylvie living her life unapologetically. Her husband was never on board with her building her career but to simply be there to support as he climbed the corporate ladder. Once Sylvie gains control of her life it is then once her Father dies that she wakes mentally to live her own truth and purpose. Sylvies Love is symbolic for her love for her career, daughter and Robert.
LESSON FIVE – IF YOU LOVE SOMETHING, SET IT FREE
Although I am not one for this analogy it was apparent in the movie that at one time in both Sylvie and Robert’s life. Sylvie let Robert go twice not once. The first time was when he wanted her to travel to Paris with him and the second time was when she gave him his release papers in her office when he insisted on heading back to Detroit. We also see that eventually Robert lets Sylvie go as he heads back to Detroit because he didn’t feel as if he could provide her the life that she deserved and he didn’t want her to be unhappy about giving up her career that she fought so hard to build. The reality of their love and unique connection was much stronger than they both realized.
LESSON SIX – TRUE LOVE DOES EXIST
Through every trial and every special moment that Sylvie and Robert shared during the movie it was the love that they had for one another that made everything that they both went through worth the fight. It was evident from the very beginning that love like theirs only happens once in a lifetime between two people from different worlds that found a spiritual, physical and emotion connection that spanned over 5-7 years in spite of them living two totally different lives and eventually coming to the conclusion that TRUE LOVE DOES EXIST and that they are GREATER TOGETHER rather than apart.
As a woman who believes in True Love and Happy Ever Afters, Sylvies Love was truly a breathe of fresh air in a crazy world. I have always been a lover of old romance movies, vintage apparel, and black lead actors. This amazing movie gave me an evening of laughter, a handful of tissues for a snotty nose and a boost shot of love for my heart. The world that we live in currently is filled with plotted and fake story lines, unauthentic relationships built on what each party stands to benefit, selecting a mate on how big their butt or breast are, what type of car that they drive and social media hype that only shows the pretty side of relationships. Sylvie’s Love may have been set in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s but every minute of the movie was relevant to 2020. Thank you Eugene Ashe for this amazing movie.
