Review of American Violet (2008) by Mike H — 18 Oct 2009

Every once in a while, you watch a movie that completely moves you. Based on events in Melody, TX where a rascist DA targets poor blacks in order to score drug convictions for his dept. He doesn't want a trial but he wants these victims to take plea bargains. One courageous single mother of 4 refuses to cooperate and is aided by the ACLU in overtaining these cases.

I can't remember the last time that I felt like leaving my couch to take action. The DA is so rascist that I had to double-check to make sure it's true. Nicole Beharie is perfect as the conflicted mother, should she accept a plea bargain to be with her children, or should she fight the rotten system. Not since "Norma Rae" with Sally Field, have we seen such a movie heroine: flawed, poor but determined. Alfre Woodward is wonderful as the mother who's looking out for her family. I liked the succinct screenplay by Bill Haney, who may be criticized for stacking the deck in favor of the victims. However, the movie aims to show social injustice and accomplishes it's goals. Director Tim Disney deserves credit for the documentary tone. The movie does feel like a tv drama since they had a limited budget.

There's lots of movies about racial injustice against blacks but the performances of Beharie and Woodward are so moving which makes this one memorable.