Jane and Emma

Jane and Emma is a 2018 American period drama film following a fictionalized friendship between Emma Smith, the wife of Joseph Smith, and Jane Manning James. The film was directed by Chantelle Squires and written by Melissa Leilani, Tamu Smith, and Zandra Vranes.

It stars Danielle Deadwyler as Jane and Emily Goss as Emma, alongside Brad Schmidt as Joseph Smith.

Jane is a Black pioneer in 1844 who walks hundreds of miles to return home to see Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On her way to the Smith home Jane is attacked by bandits. She escapes and continues on her way.

Smith lands in trouble with local hooligans, and is murdered. When Jane finally makes it to the Smith family home it is a dark and stormy night. She arrives to find Emma in the dark protecting the body of her late husband, Joseph.

Jane offers comfort and companionship to Emma in her darkest hour. The two women stay in the home with a loaded pistol and take turns keeping watch.

In the morning members from their church arrive to give help and prepare the body for burial.

Jeff Johnson, Robert Milo Andrus completed casting for the stars and main characters of the film. Gayle Minkevich-Jensen did casting for all extras.

Filming took place in Salt Lake City, Utah and onsite in Nauvoo, Illinois.