What Color Is Love

What Color Is Love is a thought-provoking dramatic movie from Lifetime, first aired in 2009. Based on a true story, it highlights society's reactions towards interracial relationships, parenting issues, love, and court battles. It weaves a touching and emotional narrative that remains relevant today, titillating the viewer and leaving them deeply moved by the core issues of race, prejudice, and what it truly means to be a family.

The film centers on Nicole Alpern (played by Jennifer Finnigan), a young, driven Caucasian woman with a glamorous lifestyle working as a public relations executive. Nicole's life takes an unexpected twist when she meets Peter Johnson (Roger R. Cross), an African-American pro basketball player. Despite their cultural, racial, and societal differences, they embark on a romantic relationship driven by genuine love and affection.

Their fairytale romance soon transitions into parenthood, as they welcome their daughter, Monique. The narrative intensifies and gains momentum as Nicole and Peter's relationship becomes strained by Peter's infidelity. Consequently, an unfathomable twist of fate finds both Peter and Nicole battling it out in court for the custody of their daughter.

The story skillfully delves deep into the universal issue of parental instinct and love, but it also throws light on the harrowing legal battles that parents often find themselves embroiled in during custody disputes. The film explores a horrifying circumstance that challenges the conventional notions of motherhood as Nicole must prove in court that she, as a white woman, can raise her half-black daughter without causing damage to her cultural and racial identity. Similarly, Peter must also prove that being a substitutive absent athlete doesn’t mean he is unfit to contribute to his daughter's upbringing.

What Color Is Love breaks new ground as it does not merely explore the issue of a broken family, but also tackles the topic of race and class privileges, which seldom get highlighted in mainstream media. Nicole, as a white woman with a comfortable financial status, is testified and evaluated based on the cultural biases around her, forcing her to confront her own sense of entitlement and privilege.

Every character in this film is not just a character but also a critique of society at large, contributing to the movie's moral folding. Jennifer Finnigan delivers a heartfelt performance of raw emotional intensity as Nicole, showing her fight to maintain her dignity while facing the unjust scrutiny of society and the court. Roger Cross brings an equal intensity to Peter's character as he navigates through the societal norms and stereotypes, grappling with challenges that come with his identity as a Black man.

Character development is one of the accomplishments of the movie. As the story unfolds, viewers witness a transition in Peter and Nicole that feels both real and believable. The film does not attempt to paint either as an absolute hero or villain. Instead, it displays their humanity, flaws, and strengths, evoking empathy from the audience and showing that no situation is black and white.

Viewers also experience poignant performances from the supporting cast, including a noteworthy portrayal by Michael Warren as Peter's father. The narrative is tightly woven, and the characters are well developed. Each scene adds a new dimension to the story, building up to an emotionally charged finale that does not shy away from hard-hitting realities.

Through its exploration of thought-provoking themes and palpable performances, What Color Is Love demonstrates true emotional storytelling. It appeals to audiences who appreciate movies with depth, societal relevance, and distinctive exploration of multifaceted characters. With its tangible drama and impactful dialogues, the movie offers viewers insights about the world through the prism of racial inequalities and parental rights.

As a part of Lifetime's impressive catalog of thought-provoking films, What Color Is Love is a firm testament to the network's commitment to bring seldom-discussed societal issues to the forefront. The movie, despite its release over a decade ago, continues to resonate and reflect the complexities of societal and racial norms that we grapple with today.