Maybe Don’t Refer to DeWanda Wise’s Love, Brooklyn Character as ‘No-Nonsense’

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If an actor expresses dissatisfaction about a certain attribute being repeatedly attributed to their character in a film that hasn’t yet been released, it often indicates a familiar, overused trope. This is true for DeWanda Wise, who plays the character Nicole, a single mother seeking romance, in Rachel Abigail Holder’s debut feature Love, Brooklyn. Wise has expressed discomfort when journalists label Nicole as “tough” or “straightforward”. At the Sundance Film Festival 2025, she mentioned that whenever she encounters such descriptions, she gently dismisses them.

I find myself marveling at her genuine curiosity and openness,” I expressed. “Whenever she says ‘That’s fine, if that’s what it is,’ I sense a sincerity in her words. It often leaves me bewildered that her sorrow appears as something else, for she truly embodies honesty.

From the nods of approval, it’s clear that Wise’s insights struck a chord with her co-actors and crew. “You’re touching on the over-complication in relationships, particularly those involving Black women,” Nicole Beharie agreed. “That’s what I appreciated about this project, and that’s why I was drawn to it. Rachel said, ‘We won’t oversimplify or dilute it. We’ll let them have all the shades.’ Love, Brooklyn follows the lives of three locals – Wise, Behari, and André Holland – as they navigate a city undergoing change (through gentrification) and personal changes (in their relationships).

We’ve returned to Sundance, specifically at the Vulture Spot, where we are conducting interviews with the casts and creators of this year’s most talked-about movies. For more coverage from the film festival, head over . (Note: Here is a hyperlink to the rest of our coverage)

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2025-01-28 04:53