Shadrach Movie Review 1998

The Dabneys run-down Depression Era southern farm was once a rich tobacco plantation and, as they learn, the former home to aged black man Shadrach (Sawyer) who returns in order to die on the land where he grew up. Flawed family patriarch Vernon (Keitel) gives his word to the ex-slave that he can be buried on the land, but learns otherwise from the local sheriff. Still, Vernon tries to fulfill his promise. Director Susanna Styron's lethargic adaptation of her father William's 1978 short story proves that the story should have stayed shorter than 90 minutes. Although the relatively small budget shows, the cast provides good performances.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 88 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Hard Knock Life, Slavery, Great Depression, American South, Adapted from a Story

Screenplay

Susanna Styron, Bridget Terry

Cast

Edward (Eddie) Bunker, Harvey Keitel, John Franklin Sawyer, Andie MacDowell, Scott Terra, Monica Bugajski, Darrell Larson, Deborah Hedwall, Daniel Treat

Cinematography

Hiro Narita

Director

Susanna Styron

Music

Van Dyke Parks

Producer

Bridget Terry, John Thompson, Boaz Davidson, Jonathan Demme, Avi Lerner, Dan Dimbort, Trevor Short, Nu Image Films, Millennium Films, Columbia Pictures