Down in the Delta
| Down in the Delta | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| 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 |
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Release date
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Running time
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112 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $5,672,903 (US) |
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.
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. Jesse stole back the candelabra, and it has been passed through the generations, along with Nathan's story, ever since.
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."
The film was successful on limited release.
The following soundtrack was released from Virgin Records.
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