By Susan Granger

Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”) continues his cinematic exploration of the Afro-American experience in 20th century America with “If Beale Street Could Talk,” adapting James Baldwin’s critically acclaimed 1974 novel. The symbolic title references the 1916 W.C. Handy song “Beale Street Blues.”

In 1970s Harlem, a 19-year-old discovers she’s pregnant with her 22-year-old boyfriend’s baby after he’s been framed by a racist cop with a grudge against him and arrested for a rape he didn’t commit. Tish (Kiki Lane) and Alfonso, known as Fonny (Stephan James), are tender soulmates, totally committed to one another. Yet, except for their families, the rest of the world seems stacked against them.

Tish’s hardworking parents (Colman Domingo, Regina King) are supportive, but Fonny’s hot tempered father (Michael Beach) hauls off and hits his sassy, judgmental mother (Aunjanue Ellis). Later, Tish’s steely mother travels to Puerto Rico to confront the woman (Emily Rios) who mistakenly identified Fonny in a police lineup.

Barry Jenkins took a real gamble, writing the screenplay before receiving approval from James Baldwin’s estate, then casting newcomer Kiki Layne, a graduate of The Theater School at DePaul University, and Canadian actor Stephan James, who played Jesse Owens in “Race” (2016).

Rising star solo guitarist Mak Grgic playing Bach tonight at the Westport Arts Center. He just flew in from performing in Berlin and Budapest to kick off the week-long Connecticut Guitar Festival. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Spencer Platt, award-winning native Westport photographer, appeared in a talk at the Westport Arts Center (WAC) tonight with Lauren Walsh, who teaches the history of photography at The New School and New York University. Sitting alongside 27 of his photos on exhibit at WAC, Platt said, “What I try to do with my photography is reengage the people with the world.” “Fractured: Photographs by Spencer Platt” is the first solo exhibition of his works. Curated by art critic Kenneth Baker, it runs through March 2.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Spencer Platt, award-winning photographer for the Getty Images news agency and 1989 Staples High School graduate, tonight told an audience at the Westport Arts Center, where some of his photos are on display, he was drawn early on to his profession. “I love the news business,” he said. “It was a romantic way to see the world.” At right is his photo of a Nazi rally last year in Draketown, Georgia. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westporter A. E. Hotchner is 101 now and has finally made good on a six-decade-old promise to his friend Ernest Hemingway.

A. E. Hotchner: kept 1958 promise.  Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Associated Press spotlights that promise in a story previewing Hotchner’s stage adaption of Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea” opening Feb. 1 at the newly renovated playhouse at Point Park University in Pittsburgh.

The story recounts how Hotchner and Hemingway attended and walked out of a 1958 film adaption of “The Old Man and the Sea.”

Hemingway later that night urged his friend to do his own adaption of the book. Hotchner promised he would try.

By Susan Granger

If you haven’t seen M. Night Shyamalan’s two previous films — “Unbreakable” (2000) and “Split” (2017) — you may be a little lost in “Glass,” because this conclusion to his trilogy brings together the main characters from both films.

Ultra-strong David Dunn (Bruce Willis) believes he’s a superhero, utilizing his abilities as a crime-fighting vigilante, assisted by his loyal son Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark) with whom he runs a security company.

His arch-nemesis is brittle-boned Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson), who calls himself “Mr. Glass” and uses his maniacally sinister intuition to manipulate the people around him.

Price’s current victim is troubled Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), who suffers from dissociative identity disorder, meaning that he has at least two dozen different personalities. The one who intrigues Price is “The Beast,” a serial killer.

Trace Burroughs (l) and brother Miggs today look over one of Trace’s works on display at the Bistro du Soleil restaurant, 615 Riverside Ave. A reception marked the opening of what they said is the first two-person exhibit by the brothers. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

There was an opening reception today for an exhibit of works by Westport artists brothers Trace (l) and Miggs Burroughs (r) at the Bistro du Soleil restaurant, 615 Riverside Ave. They said it is the first two-person show for the brothers. With them is Bernardo Munoz del Castillo, one of the principals of the Mediterranean-influenced cuisine restaurant who said he intends to showcase Westport artists in rotating exhibits throughout the year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

There was a reception tonight to mark the opening of the Westport Historical Society’s (WHS) new exhibit “Liberty To Set Down: Migrants and Immigrants in Westport Connecticut,” produced in collaboration with The Westport Library. The exhibit explores the contributions of those who settled in Westport from its earliest days to the present. The exhibit title comes from the original land grant given to the Bankside Farmers in the 17th century in what is today Greens Farms. It runs through July 31. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo