Mississippi Damned

Mississippi Damned
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Tina Mabry
Produced by	Lee V. Stiff Morgan R. Stiff
Screenplay by	Tina Mabry
Starring	Adam Clark Malcolm Goodwin Michael Hyatt
Music by	Ryan Adison Amen
Cinematography	Bradford Young
Editing by	Morgan R. Stiff
Studio	Morgan's Mark
Release date(s)	January 16, 2009 (2009-01-16) (Slamdance Film Festival)
Running time	120 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Mississippi Damned (2009) is an American drama film directed by Tina Mabry. The drama features Adam Clark, Malcolm Goodwin and Michael Hyat. The film was written and directed by Tina Mabry, based on her life growing up in Tupelo, Mississippi.^[1][2]

Plot

A trio of impoverished children living in rural Mississippi find that they must make a heart-wrenching decision between traveling down the paths taken by their doomed families and confronting the harsh realities that arise over time.

Cast

• Adam Clark as Junior
• Malcolm Goodwin as Sammy Stone
• Michael Hyatt as Delores
• Malcolm David Kelley as Young Sammy
• Jossie Thacker as Charlie
• Tessa Thompson as Kari Peterson
• Simbi Khali as Anna
• D.B. Woodside as Tyrone
• Chasity Kershal Hammitte as Leigh
• Kylee Russell as Young Kari
• Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Milena
• Michael Beasley as James
• Donna Biscoe as Gloria
• Southey Blanton as Irv
• Benjamin Brown as Ray

Reception

Critical response

When the film was screen at the NewFest film festival in New York City, Variety film critic Ronnie Scheib, praised the film, writing, "For the black men, women and children in Mississippi Damned, Tina Mabry's autobiographical saga of intertwined destinies, that southern state epitomizes a domestic hell of borderline poverty and endemic abuse. Complex family trees sometimes make for tough narrative sledding, but the thicket of obligations, traumas and betrayals that entrap the 'damned' here are well worth any momentary confusion. Mabry brilliantly captures a community as organic as it is dead-end, and the tortured legacy behind simplistic notions of ever escaping it. The NewFest audience award-winner demands strong critical support to overcome its downbeat subject matter and lack of a star draw."^[3]

The Philadelphia Inquirer film critic, Steven Rea, lauded the actors, writing, "Kelley (Walt Lloyd in Lost), Jasmin Burke and Jossie Thacker are among the busy ensemble whose exceptionally fine performances elevate what could have been a pile-it-on melodrama into something deeper and more unsettling."^[4]

Awards

Wins

• American Black Film Festival: Grand Jury Prize, Best Actor, Tessa Thompson; Best Narrative Feature; 2009.
• Atlanta Film Festival: Special Jury Award, Narrative Breakthrough; 2009.
• Black Reel Awards: Black Reel, Outstanding Independent Feature, Tina Mabry; 2009.
• Chicago International Film Festival: Gold Hugo, Best Film; Gold Plaque, Best Screenplay, Tina Mabry; Best Supporting Actress, Jossie Thacker; 2009.
• New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Film Festival: Audience Award, Narrative Feature; 2009.
• Outfest: Grand Jury Award, Outstanding US Dramatic Feature; 2009.
• Philadelphia Film Festival: Jury Award, Best American Independent Film; 2009.

References

1. ^ Mississippi Damned at the Internet Movie Database.
2. ^ Stanton, John. StarNews On-Line, "There are some 'Damned' fine filmmakers at Cucalorus," November 13, 2009. Last accessed: February 23, 2011.
3. ^ Variety film review, June 23, 2009. Last accessed: February 23, 2011.
4. ^ Rea, Steven. The Philadelphia Inquirer, film review, April 01, 2009. Last accessed: February 23, 2011.

External links

• Mississippi Damned at the Internet Movie Database
• Mississippi Damned film trailer at You Tube
• Mississippi Damned director and producer discuss film at Slamdance Film Festival
• Tina Mabry interview at StarNews On-Line