Growing up in the South, Richard Williams never imagined that he would raise two of the most powerful figures in women’s tennis. Richard grew up picking cotton in a rough world, one in which as a child he watched his best friend have his hands cut off and then murdered because he stole cotton while picking it.
That event changed Richard’s life. He learned at a very early age that he needed to perfect the craft of staying alive if he were going to survive being a Black person. With the help of his mother, Richard began a journey of learning and shaping his mindset to create a better life for himself.
Once Richard had children, he passed his work ethic on to them. The film, King Richard, relates the story of how Richard introduced his daughters Venus and Serena to the world of tennis. Based on a true story, the movie shows us what Richard and the girls went through to become who they are today.
Richard, played by Will Smith, does an amazing job of capturing Richard’s strange walk and way of talking in a way that only Smith can do. His performance in the film will most certainly garner him award opportunities in 2022.
The world of tennis was, and still is mostly a white person’s sport. King Richard shows us just how hard it was to convince people that the girls were serious about their craft. The beauty of the film is that it allows us to see a different side of Richard whom the media has always portrayed in a negative light. This film will undoubtedly change that image.
King Richard offers us a chance to laugh, to see Richard and his daughters’ struggles, and to emotionally engage with this family as we witness their striving to achieve their dreams. This is the perfect movie with which to begin the holiday season.
The film, produced by Warner Brothers Studios, will be released in theaters on November 18.
