After watching Tim Disney’s new film “American Violet” I can’t help but adapt that memorable line from “Hustle & Flow” theme song to ‘It is hard out here for a sister.’ In a word, Damn! While I did have some problems with the storytelling this is a film worth watching if only to remind us that President Barack Obama or not we’ve got a long way to go. That reality slaps you right in the face! All this plays out during the battle for the Presidency circa 2000. But it might as well have been last week.
First of all, I never, ever want to go to Melody, Texas, the scene of the film.It would break my heart. But the truth is, so many of our people are living like they did in the Arlington Springs project (helpless and hopeless). Although there is criminal activity in their midsts, not everyone is breaking the law. Such is the case with our she-ro Dee Roberts, a single mother of 4 little girls (by 3 different fathers) confidently played by relative newcomer Nicole Beharie. (You may remember her from “The Express”—but you probably didn’t see that either).
Anyway, because she lives in Arlington Springs and her name is on a list of suspected drug dealers she’s automatically guilty. Everyone (including her mom played by the always on point Alfre Woodard) wants her to take the plea. But Dee believes “the truth will set you free” even though her mother reminds her that only applies to the After Life. While others take the deal Dee is steadfast in her innocence.
Enter The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) who gets wind of the nefarious behavior down in Melody. The ACLU prepares to file suit to stir things up and hopefully stop the unfair practices. But the Jewish and black lawyer that show up quickly realize that they need a local council, Sam Conroy (Will Patton). Dee becomes the plantiff and all I can say is it’s a good thing she’s a scrappy sister because the powers that be go at her HARD. So does one of her exes, played by Xzibit.
Dee does all of her fighting perfectly coifed (except when she’s in jail).It is hard to reconcile the Dee that is ready to kick somebody’s butt with the one who asks for special treatment in jail. The majority of the other women look busted and beat down (no hair and makeup for them!)
The exception is Alfre Woodard who looks absolutely fabulous the entire time—even when she’s about to swing a baseball bat. However, she is totally underutilized (this is clearly Beharie’s film). Woodard doesn’t get to do much beyond putting doubts in her daughter’s mind. As for the brothers,Malcolm Barrett has two pivotal scenes the rest of the time he’s simply the brother in the background. Charles Dutton makes an appearance too in a character that doesn’t have much dimension. So Dutton yells just like he did in every episode of “Roc” except instead of the garbage man, this time he’s the preacher.
The white folks in the film are drawn with pretty broad strokes (including the lawyers) so even though Will Patton’s character is supposedly championing the cause his passion seems to never even get to simmer.Ditto Tim Blake Nelson who plays the ACLU lead council David Cohen.
Disney did a Spike Lee and rushed the ending and unfortunately wrapped up everything a little too neatly for my taste. Yet, what’s important remains. Our folks disproportionately find themselves behind bars and too many of them take plea deals (even when they’re not guilty). That’s because the fear and intimidation that is played out in this film is still all too real for far too many.
And although this is not the point of the film I can’t help thinking about all those sisters who do find themselves in jail because they were either holding drugs for their man or with him when he was carrying. Doing time for ‘love’ isn’t cute either.
I urge you to see this independent effort soon. I am not sure how long it will last in theaters. It opened to only 61 screens and made a little over $250,000.
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October 21st, 2009 at 11:38 am
i just seen the movie on 10/19/09 with my granddaughter and i just could not belive what i seen, i thought thos days were over with, it is just like when the blacks were not allowed to go to public places that the whites were in. My GOD were are all human and all bleed red blood. I am hispanic and i would welcome any person in my life i do not look at color and i have taught my kid and grandkids to do the same. i think they should have gotten reid of all who was involved. WHERE is JUSTICE, she because all chrages were droped, but how about those nightmares for DEE and her family. I send my prayers to you all and pray that this will not happen again. but with the law you have it could happen in any place cause all the law got in melody was a spank on the hand.
November 1st, 2009 at 3:03 am
I just seen the movie. I am a black man in Arizona, That statement alone should tell you how I feel about what happen in Melody Texas. Here I sit in a state that re-elects a sheriff in Maricopa county Arizona. Other wise known as Phoenix Arizona. The same situation exist here and across America. It is unbelievable that our President is a Black man. But there is hope.
No advertisement of this movie at all here. I found it by accident because in my little city it was one of the few movie’s that had not been rented. Imagine that. Let’s face it folks. If you don’t see it, it must not be happening. Right? Wrong. It alive and well still in America. RACIST.
I pray that one day we can all live without the fear of Dee and her family. Where is the Justice here?
November 9th, 2009 at 5:02 am
I loved the pureness of the movie, how a sister stood up for her kids. The simple fact of having charges dropped and released is not good enough, we must always have to keep proving our innocence and our intelligence in todays society on everyday bases.
November 12th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
This story was based on true events that happened in Hearne, Texas located North of Houston in Robertson County (aka Booger County.) I’m not sure why they used the town Melody in the movie, but I have had the unfortunate experience of visiting Hearne, Texas too many times. The city and county government are corrupt, and the stories that come from that town, and the neighboring town of Franklin, Texas are disgusting, and the injustices are not all racial, although this case certainly was. They take advantage of the disadvantaged, oppressed, and poor and power and money are the law. Even as I write this there is a federal racketeering case pending for their local DA, Judge, law firm, and many other city officials.
Google: Brian Russ, Judge Robert Stem, John Paschall, and Robertson County Federal Racketeering Case, ACLU Robertson County, Texas
December 13th, 2009 at 1:45 am
I think I heard of this movie one time in the mainstream of advertising of Movies for entertainment! Should have been for Education, maybe. I must say that I will encourage every single person on my email list to rent and watch and learn something from this riveting must see and learn movie! The most important thing to remember is that racism is not dead in America just because a Black Man was elected as President. Perhaps a sense of half hearted guilt has been exhausted but not forgiven. I say not forgiven simply because until any and all of us realize that it takes everyone to create hate and prejudice among people we will never accomplish the peace that love brings us! Life is truly a journey that must be changed by the individual. I seen as much distrust and hate within the ‘black’ unit of this movie (life) as I did from the ‘white’ unit of this movie. But yet the fault must be placed else where so the injustice can continue within itself. Black Women and Black Men must learn to broke that cycle of pain created from a lack of self worth and the ability to inflict it against one another and then perhaps honer and respect will be given back from the rest of the human race! Self worth…hmmmmm does it not come from perseverance or even perhaps a lack of it!
March 11th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
I recently reviewed the movie (actually watched it 3 times consecutively). Approx. one month ago, my cousin from the Wash.D.C. metro area called me and asked had I seen it. I have been living in North Texas for the past 19 years. I told her that I had not seen nor heard of the movie. There was no publicity of the movie and I can't recall hearing anything about the legal case in the media. These injustices will continue as long as a proportion of our people live in fear and silence. People in these small towns of Texas continue to suffer and pass on hopelessness from one generation to another. Some perpetuate the system by playing out the roles that have been prescribed to them by a few corrupt, racist and insensitive people who thrive on conflicting pain and destruction because of greed for power and money. Preservation of some bad/harmful behavior like those depicted in the movie must not be tolerated. I encourage those who recognize these kinds of injustice occurring in their communities to speak out (seek help). All it takes is one or two to get the momentum started. Let the voices that were given to you be heard so that others know what's going on and can offer helping hands.
March 19th, 2010 at 3:44 am
Glad you know about that because I do also.