Family ‘Photograph’
Courtney B. Vance brings heartfelt drama to big screen
Abusy Courtney B. Vance took a break from playing Aretha Franklin’s father in the upcoming “Genius: Aretha” series to discuss Friday’s “The Photograph.” A straight-to-the-heart Valentine’s Day romantic drama, “The Photograph” brings Vance, a best actor Emmy winner as Johnnie Cochran in “The People v. O.J. Simpson American Crime Story,” back to the big screen.
Asked how Cupid’s celebration stacks up at home with twins Slater and Bronwyn and Angela Bassett, his wife of 22 years, “Valentine’s hasn’t been a big huge thing,” Vance, 59, allowed.
“The birthdays are the big thing in our house. The kids are 14 now, 14 and 14, and they just had parties. But Valentine’s is OK.”
“The Photograph” is an African American romantic drama with Mae Morton (Issa Rae) on a search for understanding from her father, Louis Morton (Vance).
“Louis reminded me a lot of myself, he’s a very steady guy. What’s so beautiful about the story is it’s my daughter coming to ask about her mother. She’s trying to learn who this woman was, to get a sense of who she is and what’s her place in the world.
“All those beautiful questions that rarely are asked in chocolate. We see the vanilla version so many wonderful times. We rarely see the black Shakespeare, the black ‘Sliding Doors,’ the black ‘Sophie’s Choice.’ This is a wonderful opportunity for us to see people are people and everyone has issues.
“Because that’s what this story is about: family and how it stretches and sometimes it does break and tears. But you only have one mother and when all is said and done, that’s your mother and she’s trying to figure out how to honor her mother.
“I’m trying to help her. I’m at peace with it and I tell her, ‘You’ve got to find some peace baby.’
“It will,” Vance predicts, “be beautiful for people who go on that journey with Issa.”
“Genius: Aretha” begins on Memorial Day with Tony-winning, Oscar-nominated Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet”) as the beloved soul singer and Vance as the Reverend C.L. Franklin.
“We have eight episodes to explore the genius of Aretha and the craziness of her family. From that craziness came her genius and it’s wonderful to let the world see all the colors of her life.”
Vance met Aretha twice at the Kennedy Center Honors but never her father.
“She couldn’t read music,” he now knows. “You play it for her one time and she’s in it and would turn it into hers. Only a few people have that ability.”