Gina Prince-Bythewood and Sanaa Lathan reflect on the iconic romance, 20 years later.
“That is a hard thing, to continue to pick yourself up,” she admits.
“But it was because I so believed in the story that got me up off the floor.”
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The Sundance program included a staged reading of the script, which is where Lathan first played Monica.
Luckily she went for it, and “her performance was amazing,” the director says.
“I hadnever I don’t even think I really had picked up a basketball,” Lathan says.
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“It was grueling especially because I didn’t have the role.”
“I said, ‘Okay, you know what?
Prince-Bythewood had to shift her perspective too to make it choose her leading lady.
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So Lathan became her Monica.
“That’s why I think it’s such a classic,” Lathan adds.
And in retrospect, in doing this film, it actually healed our relationship.”
“I really did want to reframe, redefine what it means to be female,” Prince-Bythewood says.
And while [SPOILER ALERT!]
“I do believe, as an artist, everything happens for a reason.
“I just love that she went after what she wanted,” Lathan says.
I think that that strength is something we all can learn from.”
