Janelle Monáe moves through time in Antebellum, putting in stark focus that the old days weren’t better for everyone.
This intriguing teaser gives little of the plot away, but it seems that Monáe’s Veronica exists in both present day and the antebellum (pre-Civil War) American south. How she moves between is barely hinted at, but given its thriller feel, I somehow doubt she does it voluntarily. Whatever is going on, this will naturally bring up gripping questions about America’s relationship with its past, and maybe, just maybe, how it still ravages our present.
The film marks the narrative feature debut for the writing and directing team of Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz, who have an extensive background in music videos. That means Antebellum will almost certainly look great, but it throws into question whether they can wrangle a story with so many potential layers into a tight narrative.
At the very least they’ve got a great star in Monáe, who has more than proved her acting chops in movies like Hidden Figures and Harriet. She’s surrounded by a stellar cast that includes Kiersey Clemons, Jena Malone, and Gabourey Sidibe. Their roles are currently as unknown as the plot of this movie, but this is a case where the lack of information only makes the project more enticing.
Antebellum is directed by Gerard Bush and Christopher Renz and stars Janelle Monáe, Eric Lange, and Jena Malone. It will be released in the US on April 24th, 2020. Further release dates are not currently known.
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