Rye Lane (2023)

This isn’t your typical rom-com. Rye Lane (2023) is a British film directed by Raine Allen-Miller, a Black British woman whose vision brings this whole thing to life. It’s quirky. It’s colorful. It’s real. Following two heartbroken strangers, Dom and Yas, on a spontaneous day through South London — we watch them talk, laugh, side-eye life, and help each other get a little bit of their power back.

The cinematography alone? Chef’s kiss. Bright. Funky. Black as hell in the most unapologetic way. The camera moves how conversations feel — sometimes awkward, sometimes bold, always intentional.

It’s a story about Black joy without the heavy. A reminder that healing sometimes happens in random, goofy connections — not isolation. Plus, seeing quirky, artsy Black folks just exist on screen? Refreshing.

Sometimes love — platonic, romantic, or even self-love — ain’t about grand gestures. It’s about laughing through the cringe, taking baby steps outta your comfort zone, and letting yourself be witnessed in your weird little glory.