Pauletta Washington Says She 'Broke Down' When She Learned Her Son Dedicated His Movie to Her (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Pauletta Washington and Malcolm Washington on March 16, 2024.Photo:Kevork Djansezian/GettyPauletta Washingtonwas moved when she learned her sonMalcolm Washingtondedicated his feature-length directorial debut to her.“Oh my God. I’m looking forward to really express how I really feel about it,” Pauletta, who has been married toDenzel Washingtonfor 41 years, tells PEOPLE at theThe Piano Lesson’s premiere at theToronto International Film Festivalon Tuesday, Sept. 10.“You know, that’s such a great honor, such a great honor,” she adds of Malcolm’s sweet gesture. “I mean, I broke down when I saw it.“Netflix’s adaptation ofAugust Wilson’s classic play is a family affair for the Washington family: On top of Malcolm, 33, directing, Denzel, 69, produced the movie alongside his daughter Katia Washington, 37, while hisoldest sonJohn David Washingtonstars. The cast also featuresSamuel L. Jackson,Danielle Deadwyler,Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Jerrika Hinton, Gail Bean andCorey Hawkins.“There’s a greatColman Domingoquote, who’s an icon, and he says, ‘Where would we be without the dreams of our mothers?'” Malcolm tells PEOPLE, when asked why he decided to dedicateThe Piano Lessonto Pauletta, 73.John David Washington, Katia Washington, Pauletta Washington, Malcolm Washington and Denzel Washington on Sept. 10, 2024.Monica Schipper/Getty"When I was working on the movie, her story kept coming to my mind and became something where [like], ‘Okay, this is much bigger than me,’ " Malcolm adds.“And even much bigger than my mom and our relationship — this is for everybody’s mom and whether you’re a son, a daughter or a mother or a father or whatever that dynamic is,” he says. “We come from a long line of people that sacrificed and fought to put us in a position to do what we love and want to do, and I think it’s important to honor that.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.On the red carpet in Toronto, Malcolm also spoke to working with his father on set. “With any producer-director relationship, you want trust and communication and protection, in a lot of ways,” he says. “So having my dad, as well as [co-producer Todd Black] and Katia there — it meant so much to me. Having that kind of love around you means everything.Pauletta Washington, Malcolm Washington and Denzel Washington on Sept. 10, 2024.Mat Hayward/GettyJohn David, 40, previously starred inThe Piano Lessonfor the stage, when he, Jackson, 75, and Jackson’s wifeLaTanya Richardson Jacksonrevived the playon Broadway in 2022.The Piano Lessonis in select theaters Nov. 8 and begins streaming on Netflix Nov. 22.

Pauletta Washington and Malcolm Washington on March 16, 2024.Photo:Kevork Djansezian/Getty

Kevork Djansezian/Getty

Pauletta Washingtonwas moved when she learned her sonMalcolm Washingtondedicated his feature-length directorial debut to her.“Oh my God. I’m looking forward to really express how I really feel about it,” Pauletta, who has been married toDenzel Washingtonfor 41 years, tells PEOPLE at theThe Piano Lesson’s premiere at theToronto International Film Festivalon Tuesday, Sept. 10.“You know, that’s such a great honor, such a great honor,” she adds of Malcolm’s sweet gesture. “I mean, I broke down when I saw it.“Netflix’s adaptation ofAugust Wilson’s classic play is a family affair for the Washington family: On top of Malcolm, 33, directing, Denzel, 69, produced the movie alongside his daughter Katia Washington, 37, while hisoldest sonJohn David Washingtonstars. The cast also featuresSamuel L. Jackson,Danielle Deadwyler,Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Jerrika Hinton, Gail Bean andCorey Hawkins.“There’s a greatColman Domingoquote, who’s an icon, and he says, ‘Where would we be without the dreams of our mothers?'” Malcolm tells PEOPLE, when asked why he decided to dedicateThe Piano Lessonto Pauletta, 73.John David Washington, Katia Washington, Pauletta Washington, Malcolm Washington and Denzel Washington on Sept. 10, 2024.Monica Schipper/Getty"When I was working on the movie, her story kept coming to my mind and became something where [like], ‘Okay, this is much bigger than me,’ " Malcolm adds.“And even much bigger than my mom and our relationship — this is for everybody’s mom and whether you’re a son, a daughter or a mother or a father or whatever that dynamic is,” he says. “We come from a long line of people that sacrificed and fought to put us in a position to do what we love and want to do, and I think it’s important to honor that.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.On the red carpet in Toronto, Malcolm also spoke to working with his father on set. “With any producer-director relationship, you want trust and communication and protection, in a lot of ways,” he says. “So having my dad, as well as [co-producer Todd Black] and Katia there — it meant so much to me. Having that kind of love around you means everything.Pauletta Washington, Malcolm Washington and Denzel Washington on Sept. 10, 2024.Mat Hayward/GettyJohn David, 40, previously starred inThe Piano Lessonfor the stage, when he, Jackson, 75, and Jackson’s wifeLaTanya Richardson Jacksonrevived the playon Broadway in 2022.The Piano Lessonis in select theaters Nov. 8 and begins streaming on Netflix Nov. 22.

Pauletta Washingtonwas moved when she learned her sonMalcolm Washingtondedicated his feature-length directorial debut to her.

“Oh my God. I’m looking forward to really express how I really feel about it,” Pauletta, who has been married toDenzel Washingtonfor 41 years, tells PEOPLE at theThe Piano Lesson’s premiere at theToronto International Film Festivalon Tuesday, Sept. 10.

“You know, that’s such a great honor, such a great honor,” she adds of Malcolm’s sweet gesture. “I mean, I broke down when I saw it.”

Netflix’s adaptation ofAugust Wilson’s classic play is a family affair for the Washington family: On top of Malcolm, 33, directing, Denzel, 69, produced the movie alongside his daughter Katia Washington, 37, while hisoldest sonJohn David Washingtonstars. The cast also featuresSamuel L. Jackson,Danielle Deadwyler,Erykah Badu, Skylar Aleece Smith, Jerrika Hinton, Gail Bean andCorey Hawkins.

“There’s a greatColman Domingoquote, who’s an icon, and he says, ‘Where would we be without the dreams of our mothers?'” Malcolm tells PEOPLE, when asked why he decided to dedicateThe Piano Lessonto Pauletta, 73.

John David Washington, Katia Washington, Pauletta Washington, Malcolm Washington and Denzel Washington on Sept. 10, 2024.Monica Schipper/Getty

Monica Schipper/Getty

“When I was working on the movie, her story kept coming to my mind and became something where [like], ‘Okay, this is much bigger than me,’ " Malcolm adds.

“And even much bigger than my mom and our relationship — this is for everybody’s mom and whether you’re a son, a daughter or a mother or a father or whatever that dynamic is,” he says. “We come from a long line of people that sacrificed and fought to put us in a position to do what we love and want to do, and I think it’s important to honor that.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

On the red carpet in Toronto, Malcolm also spoke to working with his father on set. “With any producer-director relationship, you want trust and communication and protection, in a lot of ways,” he says. “So having my dad, as well as [co-producer Todd Black] and Katia there — it meant so much to me. Having that kind of love around you means everything.

Pauletta Washington, Malcolm Washington and Denzel Washington on Sept. 10, 2024.Mat Hayward/Getty

Mat Hayward/Getty

John David, 40, previously starred inThe Piano Lessonfor the stage, when he, Jackson, 75, and Jackson’s wifeLaTanya Richardson Jacksonrevived the playon Broadway in 2022.

The Piano Lessonis in select theaters Nov. 8 and begins streaming on Netflix Nov. 22.

source: people.com