[.ca] Down In The Delta (Widescreen) (ISBN 6305428336)

From Amazon.com:
This family drama begins in a gritty Chicago neighborhood with a jobless, hopeless mother (Alfre Woodard) pouring her efforts into the bottle and various drugs rather than her troubled daughter and wise-beyond-his-years son. But the movie soon heads south, as the title suggests, when Mom and kids are sent to live with an uncle for the summer. Their lives change, of course, but that's the only predictable aspect of this 107-minute film. First-time director Maya Angelou brings her poetic sense to Myron Goble's elegant script, and the performances are uniformly excellent, most notably the always superb Woodard, Al Freeman Jr. as her uncle, and Mary Alice as her mother. Wesley Snipes takes a break from his action career to do some acting as Freeman's son, and the late Esther Rolle is haunting in the last portrayal of her career. The film's touch of mystery is provided by one of its most devastating characters, a candelabra called Nathan. Rated PG-13, but suitable for ages 8 and older. --Kimberly Heinrichs

Powerful, clean, meaningful, and full of rich teaching:
This was a phenomenal movie. This is one of the only movies I have seen where African-American families are portrayed in a positive, and yet not politically manipulative light. The messages delivered through this production are as timeless as the meaning behind "Nathan" (a centerpiece in the movie). I would highly recommend this for teachers to use for powerful examples of ethnic identity development, positive examples of multicultural awareness, and inspirational teachings for all students. Additionally, this is a great show for families to feel comfortable watching together (however, there may be one or two scenes that are a little harsh for children- but they are not graphic by any means). Overall, this is an excellent film!!

A well-acted family story:
"Down in the Delta," directed by Maya Angelou, tells the story of Loretta (played by Alfre Woodard), a single mother who lives in Chicago and faces economic hardships. She and her kids move to the family's rural ancestral home to live with her uncle (Al Freeman, Jr.). This change of setting has a profound impact on the family. Those familiar with Angelou's fine books will probably see similar themes explored in this film. Solid performances are turned in by the excellent ensemble cast. I was especially impressed by Mpho Koaho as Loretta's young son. And veteran performer Esther Rolle turns in particularly moving performance as Loretta's Alzheimer's-afflicted aunt. This film does a good job of exploring a variety of interconnected relationships in this multigenerational context. The film celebrates family ties and family tradition, as well as one's capacity to overcome adversity.

Loving told story:
In recent years, the number of movies and TV shows about African-Americans and other minority groups has declined. I am simply stating a fact, for I have no idea why this has happened. Whatever the reasons, I am always overjoyed when a movie like Down in the Delta makes it to the screen. It is true that Down in the Delta is not a major piece of film making. Director Maya Angelou, who is by profession a famous poet, does not have the experience behind the camera to bring us a polished product. What she does know how to do is to weave a tale quietly and effectively. This is the story of the Sinclair family and of a candelabra called Nathan. Nathan has been in the family since the end of the Civil War and is now in the possession of Rosa Sinclair \oMary Alice\c, who long ago moved from the Mississippi Delta to Chicago. She is a middle-aged widow trying to cope with her dysfunctional daughter, Loretta \oAlfre Woodard\c. Loretta has two children. They all live with Rosa in a small, but well-kept apartment in a rough Chicago neighborhood. Rosa is a strong woman, and she believes that family nurtures the soul. This may be an old-fashioned notion, but it remains an inspiring one. When Loretta has yet another bout with drugs and alcohol, Rosa asks her brother Earl \oAl Freeman, Jr.\c if he will take Loretta and the children in for the summer. Earl still lives in the Delta. Loretta and the kids find themselves in a different world. While it is never stated, it is obvious that director Angelou means for us to understand that the South has undergone changes since the great migrations to Northern urban areas. As cities like Chicago have become increasingly rough, the South has gotten much more livable. The Sinclairs there live in a fine old home in the country outside a small town. Earl has his own restaurant called Just Chicken, because that's all he serves. No one is rich, but everyone works. The town has a sense of community. Loretta's son discovers that school is much more pleasant, but also academically harder. Loretta herslef discovers that people are more willing to help her overcome her lack of work skills. The Mississippi Sinclairs are not without problems. Earl misses his son, who's a lawyer in Atlanta. His wife Annie \oEsther Rolle\c has Alzheimer's disease. When Loretta suggests that Annie might be better off in a home, Earl replies that she is home. As the weeks go by, Loretta and her children learn the importance of family, something her mother has been trying to teach her for years. Throughout the movie there is the story of Nathan - or rather the story of its meaning to the family. The flashbacks are minimal, but in the end this plot device works well in summing up the point of the story.

An underrated gem:
Maya Angelou's directorial debut underperformed at the box office, but don't let that discourage you from seeing this winner. It concerns a drug-abusing mother (a great Alfre Woodard) who can't kick her habit or hold down a job. In other words, this girl's a mess. In an effort to get her act together, she takes her kids down south to begin a new life. At times, the movie has a made-for-TV feel, but it's an otherwise riveting debut for Angelou. You can feel her prescence in her directorial style; the words spoken from a few of the actors have a certain poetic flow. So, why, then, did I give it a rating of only 4 stars? Because the DVD has absolutely no features! No trailer! No production notes! Nada! I hope Miramax will revisit this film and give it a bunch of decent features including a making-of featurette. Silll, even without the extras, this film still gets the green light from me.

A family movie without sex, violence and bad language.:
I haven't felt this good about a movie in a long time. Not since "A Trip to Bountiful" anyway. I don't know how I missed it on the big screen. Thank god for DVD. (Too bad Bountiful is not out on DVD yet. ) It is a beautifully-made family movie without sex, violence and foul language (or even harsh language for that matter). If you want any of that or fast-paced action (Wesley Snipes in not cast in his usual role) you will not get it here. In fact, I don't know why it wasn't rated G. I wont bother to repeat the story since it has been covered by other reviewers here. Maya Angelou has made a slow-paced but even-tempoed film that chronicles a family's struggle to stay together. In her subtle way she almost succeeds in making us fail to notice that this is an African-American film with barely a white face seen except in flash-back sequences. Her subtlety also extends to portraying strength in her female characters even when they are flawed. It is enlightening to watch how she blends societal contrasts so effortlessly - the contrast between the haves and the have-nots and the one between urban and rural America. All in all, this is a good movie to watch with your family.