For Valentine’s Day, HBO premieres “The Loving Story,” a documentary about the Virginia couple whose court case ended laws against interracial marriage in the United States during the mid-1960s.
Richard Loving, who was white, married his sweetheart Mildred Jeter, of African American and Cherokee descent, in 1958, in Washington, DC. Interracial marriage was against the law in their home state of Virginia, so they settled down in the District – but not for long. Unable to adjust to the big city hustle and bustle, the couple decided to sneak back into Virginia, risking imprisonment by secretly living in a cabin on land owned by Richard's family.
Before long, police caught wind of the couple. They were literally rousted from their sleep and arrested for "miscegenation." Found guilty at trial, the Lovings were sentenced to 1 year in prison, but avoided incarceration by agreeing to leave the state. They could return to Virginia, but only if they did not live under the same roof.
While living in exile in DC, the American Civil Liberties Union took up their case in what would ultimately lead to a landmark United States Supreme Court decision.
“The Loving Story,” directed by Nancy Buirski, finally offers an intimate look at the couple behind the infamous Loving v. Virginia court case. The film traces how the two met and fell in love, and includes interviews with historians, advocates, neighbors and retired officials from their hometown of Caroline County.
Mildred died in 2008 at age 68, and Richard was killed by a drunk driver in 1975 when he was 41. Their daughter Peggy, however, is interviewed in the film.
“The Loving Story” is enhanced by 16mm film of candid interviews with Mildred and Richard at home with their three children. The footage, shot by Hope Ryden and Abbot Mills, also shows the couple going to and from their court dates in Richmond with their lawyers, Bernard S. Cohen and Philip J. Hirschkop.
The documentary also uses photos of their everyday life taken by Life magazine photographer Grey Villet (currently on exhibit in New York).
“The Loving Story” (78 minutes) premieres Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 9 p.m. Watch a trailer for the film at left.
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