Genre
Synopsis
This is the powerful true story of the incredible bond between Nat King Cole and his daughter, Natalie; a story of discovered spirituality, the endurance of love, and the strength of the human spirit against all odds. With the contrasting visceral, backdrops of wealth, success, racism, and addiction, the film comes to an extraordinary climax with the groundbreaking recording of Nat and Natalie‘s duet on Unforgettable in 1991. In finding out how this recording came to be, we discover how the singing of a song becomes a redemptive act; healing a broken family, mending the steps of the past and restoring the love of a daughter for her father and a mother for her child.
Director Identity
Bio
A visionary storyteller from Detroit, multiple award-winning director Christine Swanson earned her MFA in Film from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Christine also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame double majoring in Communications and Japanese. Christine has become one of television’s most trusted directors of music-driven and culturally significant biopics. Her early television films include To Hell and Back (2015) and For the Love of Ruth (2015), the latter earning her an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Directing in a Television Motion Picture. Her work on Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story (2016) shattered network ratings records and earned a Black Reel Award nomination. In 2020, Christine helmed The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel, which became the #1 cable movie of 2020 across all networks. The film won Best TV Movie from the African American Film Critics Association, the Satellite Award for Best Television Movie, and the NAMIC Vision Award, while earning nominations from the Critics’ Choice Awards, Women’s Image Network Awards, and five NAACP Image Awards, including Outstanding Directing.That same year, Christine received a Women’s Image Network Award nomination for Outstanding Film Directed by a Woman. Her short film Fannie (2022), starring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Fannie Lou Hamer, earned NAACP Image Award and Black Reel Award nominations, continuing her commitment to telling stories of legacy, courage, and cultural impact. Christine’s feature Albany Road (2024), a deeply moving road-trip drama starring Renée Elise Goldsberry and Lynn Whitfield, premiered at Ebertfest and screened at the American Black Film Festival. The film won Best Feature Filmat the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, received a Black Reel Award nomination for Outstanding Independent Film, and earned two NAACP Image Awards — including Outstanding Supporting Actress for Lynn Whitfield and Outstanding Independent Film. Christine’s television directing credits include episodes of Chicago P.D., FBI, P-Valley, MacGyver, All American, Roswell, New Mexico, Found, All American Homecoming, Sweet Magnolias, Bel-Air and BMF. Christine resides in LA.
Awards History
Golden Thumb Award- Roger Eberstfest
Top Ten Films of 2024 from the African American Film Critics Association
Two NAACP Image Award nominations for Best Independent Motion Picture and Best Suppoting Actor (Lynn Whitfield)
Hollywood Reporter Contender's List for Best Supporting Actress for Lynn Whitfield
Best Feature Film Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival
Credits
Actor-Renee Elise Goldsberry
Actor-Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
Actor/Singer-Aloe Blacc
Music Director-Donald Lawrence