This is Code Switch. I'm Karen Greaksby-Bates and we have a little something extra for you

this week. A trip to the movies. While Nate Parker has been getting all the attention

out of Hollywood for better or worse, we didn't want to let an independent that comes

out this week get overlooked. It's called Southside with You and is a romantic comedy drama

that explores a first date on a summer day back in 1989. As the title suggests, it takes

place in Chicago and stars Parker Sawyer's as a young Barack Obama and Tika Sumter as

Michelle Robinson. Director Richard Taney also wrote the film and it opens Friday.

We miss Shell. Thought it was in the date? It isn't. Going to an awful lot of trouble for

just an out of smooth talking brother. He's a summer associate I told y'all about. The

one from Harvard Law. He invited me to a community event. So what's this boy's name?

Barack Obama. Barack Obama.

Hello. You're late. I'm hoping you wouldn't notice. I expected it. You were late for your first

day of work. You've noticed that too. Your advisor I'm supposed to notice.

Well Michelle, all set? Hmm? Shouldn't we be getting to the meeting? We have some time.

I thought we'd spring by the art center. See some paintings. Maybe grab everybody to eat.

This is not a date. How's it going to look? If I start dating the first cute black guy

who walks through the firm's doors? It would be tacky. You think I'm cute? I didn't say that.

The movie got me thinking that you don't often see black love in dramatic film where you're

paying 1450 a pop and settling into a theater scene with a bucket of popcorn to enjoy just

a regular summer flick. So we invited MPR Film Critic Bob Mandelo to explore this movie

and the idea of black love on film. Hey Bob. Hey, it's great to be here. So let's start with

Southside with you. How is it? I really enjoyed it. It's remarkable in not being remarkable in any

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