Down in the Delta

Down in the Delta

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Maya Angelou
Produced by Rick Rosenberg
Bob Christiansen
Victor McGauley
Wesley Snipes
Written by Myron Goble
Starring Alfre Woodard
Al Freeman, Jr.
Esther Rolle
Mary Alice
Loretta Devine
Wesley Snipes
Music by Stanley Clarke
Cinematography William Wages
Edited by Nancy Richardson
Distributed by Miramax Films
Release dates
  • August 5, 1998 (1998-08-05) (Urbanworld Film Festival)
  • September 17, 1998 (1998-09-17) (Toronto Film Festival)
  • December 25, 1998 (1998-12-25) (U.S.)
Running time
 112 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Box office $5,672,903 (US)[1]

Down in the Delta is a 1998 drama film directed by Maya Angelou. The film stars Alfre Woodard, Al Freeman, Jr., Esther Rolle, Loretta Devine, and Wesley Snipes.[2]

Plot

Rosa Lynn, an elderly woman, sends her daughter Loretta and her children to live with her brother-in-law in Mississippi. Loretta is an addict and does not want to go, especially since uncle Earl lives in the dry and rural part of Mississippi.

Uncle Earl already has his hands full with his business and a wife who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. He has Loretta help him in his restaurant, and the family begins to find strength in their roots, and start to rebuild their lives.

An important recurring object throughout the film is a silver candelabra, a family heirloom. The candelabra, which everyone refers to as "Nathan," has strong significance to the family. It is finally revealed that Loretta's great-great grandfather and Jesse's father was a slave named Nathan, and he was traded for the candelabra.[3] Jesse stole back the candelabra, and it has been passed through the generations, along with Nathan's story, ever since.

Cast

Reception

Alfre Woodard's work drew praise from San Francisco Chronicle reviewer Peter Stack, who lauded her for "a beautifully layered performance...Woodard is magical as a single mother haunted by drugs, alcohol and an inadequate education. She almost single-handedly shores up this somewhat simplistic movie...[h]er instincts for drama and humor provide a welcome dose of human reality, saving a script that veers toward the sentimental."[4]

Box Office

The film was successful on limited release.[5]

Soundtrack

The following soundtrack was released from Virgin Records.[6]

  1. Believe in Love - Sunday
  2. God's Stepchild - Janet Jackson
  3. Heaven Must Be Like This - D'Angelo
  4. If Ever - Stevie Wonder
  5. Where Would I Be - The Leverts (Eddie, Gerald, and Sean)
  6. I'm Only Human - Luther Vandross (featuring Cassandra Wilson and Bob James)
  7. Just A Little Luv - Shawn Stockman
  8. We Belong Together - Tony Thompson And Antoinette
  9. Don't Talk 2 Strangers - Chaka Khan
  10. Let It Go - Jazzyfatnastees featuring The Roots
  11. My Soul Don't Dream - Meshell N'degeocello & Keb' Mo'
  12. Uh Uh Ooh Ooh Look Out Here It Comes - Ashford & Simpson
  13. Don't Let Nuthin' Keep You Down - Sounds of Blackness
  14. Family (Score) - Stanley Clarke
  15. The Rain - Tracie Spencer
  16. Patchwork Quilt - Sweet Honey in the Rock

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Down in the Delta (1998)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  2. ↑ "Down in the Delta". IMDb. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  3. ↑ Ebert, Roger. http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/down-in-the-delta-1998. Retrieved 5 December 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ Stack, Peter (23 June 2011). "Serenity of Life Down South / Woodard shores up Angelou's 'Delta'". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  5. ↑ "'Patch Adams' Just What Holiday Ordered". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
  6. ↑ http://allmusic.com/album/down-in-the-delta-r382811
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