Just watching the trailer for Loving made me tear up, so I prepared myself for Terms Of Endearment level sobbing – but I was surprised that I didn’t need my ten pack of Kleenex. Nichols could have gone for overwrought performances and heaped on the sentimentality but the subtle and understated nature of the film reflects the Lovings’ relationship – they just wanted to live a quiet life together. Their small community accepted them (mostly); it was the state of Virginia that was trying to keep them apart. Ruth Negga’s lead performance is wonderful – in one look she says what a lesser actor couldn’t say in ten pages of dialogue. She is truly mesmerising and deserves her Oscar nomination for Best Actress, although I am surprised that it is the film’s only nomination. Behind Joel Edgerton’s ‘caucasian’ blue eyes, cropped platinum hair and hulking body is a man who is just trying to live his life with the woman he loves. He never reverts to violence or retaliates, he remains composed, strong and quiet. The lead actors convey intimacy through glances and small gestures – the depth of their commitment to each other is portrayed beautifully. One of the most moving scenes shows the Lovings in their bedroom together, their profiles cast in shadows so no skin colour can be seen. The film is about race, discrimination and civil rights, and sadly these are still at the forefront of world news today. I had never heard of the ACLU until a couple of weeks ago when Alan Sugar’s American counterpart became the president of the USA. The American Civil Liberties Union took on the Lovings’ appeal after Mildred wrote to Attorney General Bobby Kennedy for his help and that led to their conviction being appealed and marriage laws in America changing. Maybe it is more of a personal preference but I would have liked to have seen more anger – but perhaps I am judging people’s feelings on today’s standards rather than how it really was in America in the 50s and 60s. Loving is a vital film – their story is as important today as it was then. Loving is in UK cinemas now.