Barry Jenkins shared the first teaser for his upcoming film “If Beale Street Could Talk” on author James Baldwin’s birthday.
The film is based on a 1974 Baldwin novel about a young Harlem woman who is in a race against time to prove her lover’s innocence while pregnant with their first child.
“When I was growing up, I was trying to make a connection between the life I saw, and the life I lived,” says the voiceover in the teaser.
Jenkins wrote the screenplay in the summer of 2013, the same time when he came up with what became “Moonlight,” which took home the Best Picture trophy the 2017 Academy Awards.
The director, who has wanted to adapt “If Beale Street Could Talk” for many years, worked to gain the trust of the Baldwin estate for film rights to the book.
Baldwin was born on Aug. 2, 1924. He died on Dec. 1, 1987. His other works include “Giovanni’s Room,” “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “Another Country,” “The Fire Next Time” and his book of essays, “Notes of a Native Son.”
“If Beale Street Could Talk” hits theaters on Nov. 30.
Watch the teaser below.
For me, August 2nd has always been a day to pay tribute, so… a teaser of what's to come. Happy Birthday, Jimmy ????♥️ pic.twitter.com/1Miu4jfWvg
— Barry Jenkins (@BarryJenkins) August 2, 2018