los angeles — Waiting to Exhale, released in 1995, follows four women through turbulent moments in their lives, dealing with love, family, careers, and everything in between. Angela Bassett (Bernadine), Loretta Devine (Gloria), Lila Rochon (Robin), and the late Whitney Houston (Savannah) portray a close group of friends who rely on their close bonds to help them get through life’s trials, triumphs, and tribulations.
For the film’s 30th anniversary, the stars reunited for a celebratory tour, sharing laughs and memories about what it was like filming alongside Houston, what the characters mean to them, and how they hope the film’s legacy will continue to impact generations to come.
“This movie helps you do what it says,” Devine said. “It helps you breathe and enjoy what love and friendship are all about. If you’re in a relationship and you have friends, you’re like, ‘Oh yeah.’ This is me”.”
The film is based on the book of the same title published by Terry MacMillan in 1992. By the time the film reached theaters, the book had sold more than three million copies.
“‘Waiting to Exhale’ represented all kinds of love,” Devine said. “Dealing with all the different situations that can happen if you’re in love, how to raise your kids, and having new kids. We’ve got it all covered.”
For “Waiting to Exhale,” both the book and film excelled in featuring a large cast of predominantly black characters to tell an honest and complex story.
“I think Terry always gets to the heart of the story,” Rochon said. “I think it’s very profound in making it real in a deeper way than we’ve seen in cinema before, you know, fully developed characters.”
It is a multi-layered story of love and friendship, and is bittersweet for the cast and their memories of Whitney Houston.
“As joyful as this moment is, 30 years later, we have an angel on our shoulder,” Bassett said. “You know, she’s not with us physically, but she’s definitely with us in spirit.”
Houston was a talented singer turned movie star and producer. Her studio albums remain one of the best-selling musicians of all time, setting several records upon release as they broke down racial and gender barriers.
In 2012, she tragically died in a drowning accident in a hotel.
“The memory of making the movie is what sticks with me so long and will forever, especially with Whitney not being here,” Rochon said. “It’s just precious, precious times. And I love it, you know. It’s eternal.”
A still from the song Waiting to Exhale of Whitney Houston looking over her shoulder in a dress.
Courtesy of the Walt Disney Archives
Another talented star, Gregory Hines, portrayed Devine’s love interest in the film. The award-winning actor, dancer, singer and choreographer died in 2003 after a private, year-long battle with liver cancer.
“Two very special people blessed us in making this film, and they are with us in spirit today,” Bassett said.
Both their heritage has been preserved and lives on in the amazing work they have accomplished. “Waiting to Exhale” is part of that generational story. It’s the kind of story that gets to the heart of friendship, goes beyond the screen to pass, and resonates with people of all backgrounds.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Hulu’s Black Stories Always has partnered with… The global status of women To conduct a group screening of the film. The organization works to provide women around the world with economic, professional and community support, including providing relief funds to those experiencing unemployment. The work shows the impact of Waiting to Exhale’s message of coming together.
“He had a huge impact on my life,” singer and actress LeToya Luckett said at the event. “When I sat in that theater and watched these powerful women live out the different versions of what we know about Black women, the things we go through and the way they executed those roles. It’s legendary.”
On screen and in real life, connection is what gave these women the air to come out, be themselves, and shine.
“I would tell young people who love and enjoy the movie to watch it again and again,” Rochon said. “Because at every stage of your life you’re going to understand the movie a lot differently every time you grow up. The thing the movie shows you is to really enjoy friendship and connection.”
The film embodies the theme of Hulu’s Black Stories Always Black History Month, which celebrates community. And for a whole new generation, the film’s themes of teamwork certainly still ring true.
“Waiting to Exhale” is now streaming on Hulu.
Andres Rovira and Dean Singleton contributed to this report.
The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of Hulu and this ABC station.