Down in the Delta Movie Review 1998

Chicago matriarch Rosa Lynn (Alice) tries to prevent her jobless, single-mom daughter Loretta (Woodard) from succumbing to drugs, alcohol, and the other destructive forces that are a part of her rough neighborhood. She sends her Loretta and her two grandchildren (including an autistic boy) to her brother's home in the Mississippi delta, hoping that they'll reconnect to their roots. Though reluctant at first, Loretta finds herself slowly changing her ways as she works in Uncle Earl's restaurant; she is moved by his love of family, particularly his Alzheimer-ridden wife (Rolle). Poet-novelist Maya Angelou's first outing as a director skillfully demonstrates the importance of connecting to one's heritage. Woodard shines energetically as the strung-out mom and Freeman is nearly perfect as the elegant and tender Uncle Earl.

Distribution

Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521-1120, Toll-free: 800-723-4763, URL: http://www.bvhe.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 111 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Moms, Culture Clash, Chicago, Drug Use & Abuse, Disease of the Week, Shutterbugs, American South, Aunts & Uncles, Nieces & Nephews, Family Drama

Screenplay

Myron Goble

Cast

Alfre Woodard, Al Freeman, Mary Alice, Wesley Snipes, Esther Rolle, Loretta Devine, Anne-Marie Johnson, Mpho Koaho, Kulani Hassen, Richard Blackburn

Cinematography

William Wages

Director

Maya Angelou

Music

Stanley Clarke

Producer

Rick Rosenberg, Robert Christiansen, Wesley Snipes, Showtime, Amen Ra, Miramax