Miss Juneteenth is a movie that I happened upon last night while scrolling through new releases. The film had premiered at Sundance this past January and that caught my eye. I had no idea what to expect.

Channing Godfrey Peoples  wrote and directed Miss Juneteenth. She did an excellent job with both. The moving story had depth and breadth. She knew how to include salient details yet tell a tale that felt universal. As the story unfolds, Peoples throws in a few twists that keep the plot fresh and engaging.

The film starred Nicole Beharie as Turquoise Jones, Alexis Chikaeze as Kai, her daughter, and Kendrick Sampson, as Kai’s father who is separated from Turquoise. The chemistry between the three actors kept me mesmerized. Turquoise had won the Miss Juneteenth pageant years before and had gotten a full scholarship to college. However, her life wound up heading in a different direction. Turquoise wants a better life for her daughter, so she works hard to come up with the steep entrance fee to the current Miss Juneteenth pageant. The story opens as fifteen-year-old Kai is unwillingly preparing for the competition. She’d prefer to be on the dance team at school.

In spots, the movie was difficult for me to watch, I wanted so badly for everyone to have her dreams fulfilled. Channing Godfrey Peoples came up with an ending that wasn’t what I expected and at the same time felt completely satisfying. I highly recommend this movie.