Tayarisha Poe’s spectacular sophomore film finds Celestina, (Kiersey Clemons, 
DOPE, Hearts Beat Loud) on her wedding day. 
All that stands between this young woman and marital bliss with her soon-to-be husband, River, (singer/songwriter Leon Bridges) is surviving the chaos and expectations of family and friends, each intensifying her spiraling panic. THE YOUNG WIFE is the story of a young woman grappling with the meaning of love in the face 
of an uncertain world, “The Young Wife” is a a wholly new take on the wedding film as we follow Celestina over the course of her “non-wedding” day. The frenetic happenings are beautifully captured by cinematographer Jomo Fray (Selah and the 
Spades, All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt). Boasting a superb supporting cast of award winning actors that also includes: Kelly Marie Tran, Michaela Watkins, Aya Cash, Sandy Honig, Brandon Micheal Hall, Lukita Maxwell, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Judith Light, Aida Osman, Connor Paolo, Jon Rudnitsky and Lovie Simone. Director and Writer Tayarisha Poe joins us for a lively conversation on the inspiration for the film, gathering together her fantastic cast of performers, working with Sheryl Lee Ralph and Judith Light, working with he colleagues from Selah and the Spades and geeking out about films and filmmakers.
Download MP3 Podcast | Open Player in New Window
For more go to: paramountmovies.com/the-young-wife
About the filmmaker – Director / Writer / Producer Tayarisha Poe is a filmmaker and photographer from West Philadelphia. Her relation to cinema began in childhood, when watching movies and rigorously discussing them with her parents and brothers was a pathway to better understanding her family. Poe has been recognized as an essential storyteller. She was chosen as one of the “25 New Faces of Independent Film” by Filmmaker Magazine in 2015 and in 2016, she received the Sundance Institute’s Knight Foundation Fellowship. In 2017, she was selected for the January Sundance Screenwriters Lab and the June Sundance Directors Lab and was a recipient of the highly-acclaimed Pew Fellowship. Poe’s debut film, SELAH AND THE SPADES, began as a series of photographs, short films, and prose. The project then grew into a feature, which was released on Amazon in April 2020 after premiering at Sundance. The film carved out a unique place in the high school film genre. It garnered outstanding reviews and became a massive hit, so much so that Amazon commissioned her to create a series based in the same world. Since the success of her debut feature, Tayarisha has been in high demand. She directed the first episode in season 2 of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, entitled “AMONG THE UNTRODDEN,” an episode in season 2 of FX’s DAVE entitled “SOMEBODY DATE ME,” and commercials for Telfar. We believe THE YOUNG WIFE will claim its own new space alongside other iconic wedding films, merging the universality of the wedding moment with a distinct and fresh perspective that only Tayarisha can create. For more go to: tayarishapoe.com/motion
SOCIAL MEDIA
facebook.com/ParamountMovies
facebook.com/hashtag/theyoungwife
facebook.com/tayarisha.poe
facebook.com/jomo.fray
instagram.com/tayarishasaurusrex
instagram.com/jomofray
instagram.com/kiersey
instagram.com/leonbridgesofficial
instagram.com/thesherylleeralph
“It’s an exhilarating experience that presents the tug-of-war we all must endure to maintain a level of self within the communal “us” that’s born from the relationships we cultivate.” – Jared Mobarak, Hey, Have You Seen …?
“An ambitious, maximalist vision that expresses personal turmoil as global catastrophe.” – Josh Bell, Crooked Marquee
“As you get caught up in [Tayarisha Poe’s] words and stunning visuals, you begin to fall under the grip of a filmmaker who wields her camera frame with the intent of affecting her audience in a way that sneaks up on you that is holistic and honest.” – M.N. Miller, InSession Film
“The Young Wife can be a chaotic experience, but Poe has the skills to carry us through the noise and toward the future.” – Ryan Lattanzio, indieWire
“Paired with an outstanding performance by Kiersey Clemons, Poe crafts an intimate, profound, and visually gorgeous feature that overwhelms the senses.” – Mae Abdulbaki, Screen Rant