Down in the Delta (1998)
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78% of critics liked it
(23 reviews) -
68% of users liked it
(1,365 ratings)
Poet Maya Angelou made her feature directorial debut with this African-American family drama, shown theatrically but originally produced for the Showtime cable network. Unemployed single mother Loretta (Alfre Woodward) lives with her mother, Rosa Lynn (Mary Alice), in a Chicago apartment. Drugs and… More Poet Maya Angelou made her feature directorial debut with this African-American family drama, shown theatrically but originally produced for the Showtime cable network. Unemployed single mother Loretta (Alfre Woodward) lives with her mother, Rosa Lynn (Mary Alice), in a Chicago apartment. Drugs and alcohol lead Loretta to neglect her autistic daughter, Tracy (Kulani Hassen). Her teen son Thomas (Mpho Koaho) brings in money by photographing tourists. Rosa Lynn pawns a family heirloom in order to send Loretta and the kids off to their Mississippi Delta hometown where Loretta's Uncle Earl (Al Freeman Jr.) runs his diner. Earl lives in a dry county, so Loretta is reluctant. However, she has no choice after Rosa Lynn threatens to contact child-welfare authorities if she doesn't go. Earl takes in the trio even though he already has enough problems with Annie (Esther Rolle), an Alzheimer's victim under the supervision of caregiver Zenia (Loretta Devine). Toronto locations substitute for Mississippi. Shown at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Directed By
- Maya Angelou
- Written By
- Myron Goble
- Genres
- Drama
PG-13,
- In Theaters
- Dec 25, 1998 Wide
- Studio
- Miramax
Critic Reviews
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Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International
Maya Angelou's stunning feature directorial debut.
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Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Not particularly groundbreaking, and neither is its message, but it's all done with sensitivity and intelligence by Angelou.
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Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
I was not thrilled about having to see it. But, sitting there in the dark, I became tremendously moved by the movie, and I have not forgotten its power.
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Judith Egerton, Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
Employs too many redundant, stagy flashbacks to tell the story of Loretta's ancestors.
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Greg Muskewitz, eFilmCritic.com
A powerful performance from Alfre Woodard captured by Angelou's quiet, poetic direction.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Alfre Woodard
as Loretta
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Al Freeman Jr.
as Earl
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Mary Alice
as Rosa Lynn
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Esther Rolle
as Annie
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Loretta Devine
as Zenia
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Wesley Snipes
as Will
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Mpho Koaho
as Thomas
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Kulani Hassen
as Tracy
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Anne-Marie Johnson
as Monica
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Justin Lord
as Dr. Rainey
