20th Century Fox(LOS ANGELES) — It’s hard to believe that Waiting to Exhale was released two decades ago, on December 22, 1995. Based on Terry McMillan’s bestselling 1992 novel, the movie followed the story of four friends dealing with their respective relationships, and was one of the few that explored the romantic relationships of African-American women in a genuine way. Now the cast is reflecting on what the movie represented for the African-American community.
“Waiting to Exhale was important 20 years ago because it gave black women a voice and brought attention to their ideas on love and marriage,” actress Loretta Devine, who played Gloria, tells the Los Angeles Times. “Now, like then, women want the world to know what women want.”
Angela Bassett, who played Bernadine, adds: “It showed women that in spite of fractured relationships, joy, peace, love and kinship are always a possibility. It broke perception, preconception and history.”
Waiting to Exhale, directed by Forest Whitaker, also starred the late Whitney Houston and Lela Rochon, It went on to earn $81.5 million internationally.
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