Beyond the lights is an embodiment of love, strong will, self redefinition, strength and fulfilling purpose. It’s a movie with great sensationalism, perfection and powerful in portraying the beauty of music, nature, humans and that of a girl child. With (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) Noni who has been ruled, directed and monitored by her mother (Minnie Driver) Macy Jean entire life as her stage manager rather than a mother.
She is suddenly cut in between depression and loneliness despite just winning a billboard nomination. Which lead to her suicidal attempt though abortive by the intervention of (Nate Parker) Kaz Nicol her body guard.
Being a star girl, ( Gugu Mbatha-Raw) Noni tries to put on a horrific sexist behavior that comes with being a super star singer.
This is reflected in her dresses on stage, naked in camera appearances and sometimes molested on stage by an Eminem-like rapper, her previous lover, whom her music winning awards are relatively attached to.
(Nate Parker) Kaz Nicol rescue Gugu Mbatha-Raw, known as Noni the star girl in the movie “beyond the lights” form a suicidal attempt (Jumping from a balcony).
An incident that awakened their love. Kaz Nicol is a soulful, shy, comic, sweet, vulnerable and handsome young man who is in love with the R&B singer Noni unknowingly when he fiercely responds “I see you” giving Noni the willingness to live again.
Their love grows strong as it reshapes the life of Noni giving her the happiness and freedom she has always craved for.
The two love birds (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) Noni and (Nate Parker) Kaz Nicol eventually elope to an island far away from home, family, material lifestyle and music due to the pressure from (Minnie Driver) Macy Jean and (Danny Glover) Captain David Nicol who are afraid that the love affair from their children might cost their careers.
Nevertheless, this small bungalow in a far away island gave them the sense of identity and the intimacy of love. Noni for the first time felt really free and powerful as this is demonstrated in the song “black birds”.
Beyond the lights goes from an operatic moment of drama, to a blatant reviewing of life itself as it’s shown in the effectiveness of (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) Noni rebirth of hope and strength.
(Gugu Mbatha-Raw) Noni and (Nate Parker) Kaz Nicol romantic island trip is rudely interrupted by (Minnie Driver) Macy Jean accompanied by some journalist who forcefully took Noni along.
With anger ranging in her heart Noni fired her mother from being her manager after engaging in an argument which led to her mother (Minnie Driver) Macy Jean slapping her for the first time. Noni finally found her voice as she responded to the bitterness and the neglect that (Minnie Driver) Macy Jean her mother had oppressed her to.
At last Noni stood up for herself as her love with (Nate Parker) Kaz Nicol blossomed and her career recandle.
1. The Life Of (Minnie Driver) Macy Jean
Although (Minnie Driver) Macy Jean isn’t the main star in this great powerful embodiment of art, but she played one of the essential role being the Mother of (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) Noni the talented star singer.
A desperate young single mother whose determination is to make her child a super star despite the financial crises.
Her entire life revolved around her daughter (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) Noni whom she can sacrifice anything possible in making her music career a success.
Her weakness is shown in her inability to handle being a mother and a manager, as she totally neglect the importance or impact of a mother to her child. She later realizes how much she has caged, dominated, and control (Noni) her daughters life as (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) Noni hit her with the unavoidable Truth of not being a good mother rather a manager to her.
Movie Summary
Directed by: Gina prince-Bythewood
Release: 14-11-2014
Duration: 1 hour 56m
Categories: Drama, family, romance, music, adventure.
Characters: Gugu Mbatha-Raw; Nate Parker; Minnie Driver; Machine Gun Kelly; Danny Glover.
