Breaking Down the Love Brooklyn Trailer: A Bicycle, a Love Triangle, and Brooklyn's Soul
The first shot of Love, Brooklyn's trailer isn't of its lead, André Holland, or either of his love interests (Nicole Beharie and DeWanda Wise). Instead, it's his bicycle—leaning against a brownstone, bathed in golden-hour light. A small but telling choice. This is a film about movement, about navigating relationships and a city in flux. And if the trailer is any indication, director Rachael Holder's feature debut might just be one of the year's most charming love letters to New York.
A Trailer That Feels Like Brooklyn
Greenwich Entertainment's newly released trailer (embedded below) wastes no time establishing tone. The opening montage—Holland's Roger weaving through Brooklyn streets, DeWanda Wise's Nicole rolling her eyes at his antics, Nicole Beharie's Casey sipping wine in a half-empty gallery—sets up a love triangle that feels lived-in, not contrived. The dialogue is sparse but sharp: “You have any evening plans?” Roger asks, half-smirking, as if he already knows the answer. The chemistry between Holland and Wise crackles, while Beharie brings a quiet melancholy that lingers.
Visually, the trailer leans into Brooklyn's contradictions: sun-drenched brownstones next to glassy high-rises, bustling sidewalks contrasted with intimate apartment scenes. The color palette—warm ochres, muted blues—evokes early 2010s indie romances (Blue Valentine comes to mind), but the energy is lighter, more hopeful. And yes, the bicycle is practically a co-star.
Why This Sundance Darling Stands Out
Love, Brooklyn premiered at Sundance earlier this year to strong reviews, and it's easy to see why. Holland, always a magnetic screen presence, seems perfectly cast as the freewheeling Roger, a man caught between past and present loves. Wise, as the no-nonsense single mother Nicole, steals scenes with just a glare, while Beharie's gallery owner Casey embodies the quiet ache of a relationship in limbo.
The film's secret weapon might be its authenticity. Holder, a TV veteran (Dickinson, Run the World), avoids clichés, instead grounding the story in Brooklyn's ever-shifting cultural landscape—gentrification, artistic communities, the push-pull of modern dating. Even the trailer's soundtrack (a soulful, piano-driven score) feels fresh, a far cry from the usual indie-pop overdose.
Release Strategy & Why It Matters
Greenwich Entertainment is rolling Love, Brooklyn out carefully: a limited theatrical release starting August 29, 2025, with expansions throughout September. It's a smart play for a film that thrives on word-of-mouth. Given Holland's rising profile (and executive producer Steven Soderbergh's mentorship), this could be a sleeper hit—especially if it resonates with audiences craving romance without sap.
Final Verdict: Watch This Trailer Now
If the trailer's breezy charm and Holland's effortless charisma don't hook you, the promise of a smart, visually lush romance should. Love, Brooklyn looks like the kind of film that lingers—a love story as much about a place as it is about people.
