First-time film director Rachel Anderson premiered her film “Tainted Love” on January 8, 2015 at the Tempe Pollack Cinema to a packed house. Written by Anderson as well, ‘Love’ is a largely autobiographical account of Anderson’s relationship with filmmaker Akil Williams and the resistance she encountered as a result of their relationship, ultimately dividing her family between a mother that supported her, and a father strongly opposed to his daughter being in a relationship with a black man. ‘Love’ also culminates with Anderson’s real-life interrupted engagement to Williams, who died suddenly in 2010. ‘Love’ features actors Mindy Jackson as Samantha Johnson, and Michael Rivers as Drake Walker.

Young writer Samantha (Jackson) has had enough of the single life and searches online for somebody new. She immediately connects with Drake (Rivers) and the two pursue a torrid latenite cyber romance. The next day she spends quality time with her folks (Rob Edwards and Susan Rienzo) and playfully helps her dad wash the car. Drake and Samantha meet IRL for the first time at a nightclub in Scottsdale, bumping and grinding the night away and celebrating Samantha’s twenty-eighth birthday. They call it a night, and the next morning Drake reprimands his roommate for watching too much porn and smoking too much weed, while elsewhere, Samantha’s roommate teases her as Samantha anxiously waits for Drake to call. They meet again at a trendy nightspot with a groovy electro calypso band that just happens to be frequented by Samantha’s father as well, who becomes incensed at the sight of an interracial couple at the bar. Samantha knows she’s got to hide her love away, having kept her relationship with Drake a secret, lest she anger her dad. Samantha meets Drakes daughter and his snarky ex, and they all frolic in the park as she tries desperately to form a bond with the little girl. As Drake prepares for an art show he’s curating, lovely and eager artist Amber arrives and puts the moves on him in the bathroom. He pawns her off on his roommate who politely asks if she would care to partake of the water bong with him. She inhales deeply and compliments him on the excellent herbal selection he has made; full bodied with a mild texture, yet strong and pleasantly psychedelic.

The gallery show is a success and at the conclusion, Drake drops to one knee and proposes to Samantha, who accepts on the spot. Their happy moment is short lived as Samantha’s reticence drags on, unable to tell her bigoted father of her engagement to a black man. Drake gives her an ultimatum (and so does her mom) and all heck breaks loose in the Johnson household when Samantha finally drops the bomb on her dad, and he angrily throws her out of the house. In an oddly disturbing scene, Drake has a productive meeting with two art promoters who ply him with alcohol; the three men consuming the entire bottle by the conclusion of the meeting. Drake gets arrested for DUI, but that doesn’t put the damper on their wedding plans. Mrs. Johnson demands a divorce and happily helps Samantha pick out a wedding gown, but at the bridal shop Samantha learns that Drake has died while in custody. As she comes to terms with the sudden loss, her father must also come to terms with his bigotry and accept his daughter back into his life.

“Tainted Love” is a love story that director Anderson wanted to tell, and would stop at nothing until she was able to share her story with everyone, especially those who are struggling against racism and intolerance. While tackling a very serious and deeply personal subject, Anderson is able to inject just the right amount of cogitative humor into the dialog, lightening the subject without taking it lightly. The story is presented more as a narrative of what actually took place, than an analysis of what personally transpired during that brief yet tragic period in the directors’ life. The cinematography by Steve Varnell is well done and competent, never taking any serious risks but not exactly playing it cautious and conservative at all times either. The performances in ‘Love’ are strong and the cast clearly approached each character with earnestness and a genuine desire to tell the story they were portraying. The props for ‘Love’ have to go to Mr. Michael Rivers for his performance as Drake. Rivers delivers his character as a smooth and slightly arrogant player, capitalizing on his charm and good looks yet striving to be taken seriously for his skills and artistic talent. A terrific blend of eager confidence underscored by an ostensibly innocuous naiveté. Director Anderson has created her film for several reasons, chief among them: to tell her story of forbidden love due to bigotry, to reach out to those facing the same situation as she, to bring to light the anguish of separation due to incarceration and much more. In reaching out to everyone else, Anderson has under-shadowed the sad girl that reaches out alone in the darkness, in traffic hum and celestial light. To the space beside her where there was flesh and breath, life and blood, that flowed through a heart that loved, to an outstretched hand that was beloved, and now retracts unfilled and empty.

Final Take – To make things right, you need someone to hold you tight.