Mama Flora's Family Movie Review 1998

Based on the novel by Alex Haley, which was finished by co-author Stevens after Haley's 1992 death. Loosely based on Haley's mother, Mama Flora (Tyson) endures one tragedy after another while raising her family. First, as a teenaged servant, Flora gets pregnant and is forced to give the child up. Then when she does marry, her husband is killed and their property burned. Meanwhile, her other children and grandchildren struggle with discrimination and grow up angry and resentful. Holds together because of the force of Tyson's portrayal.

Distribution

Hallmark Home Entertainment, 6100 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 1400, Los Angeles, CA 90048, Phone: (213)634-3000, Fax: (213)549-3760, Remarks: Lainie Handelman, Mktg.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 175 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

African America, Moms, Hard Knock Life, Books to Film: Alex Haley, Parenthood, Period Piece: 20th Century

Screenplay

David Stevens, Carol Schreder

Cast

Cicely Tyson, Mario Van Peebles, Blair Underwood, Queen Latifah, Hill Harper, Shemar Moore, Della Reese

Cinematography

Neil Roach

Director

Peter Werner

Producer

Jon Avnet, Jordan Kerner, Carol Schreder