Winner of the
Heartland Truly
Moving Picture Award
American Violet
comes to DVD and Blu
Ray.
American Violet sets
the scene of a
caring mother (Dee
Roberts) of 4 having
breakfast with her
daughters before
heading out to
grandma's house who
happens to live
across the way in
the small ghetto
complex. Meanwhile,
the opposite end of
the story shows
several officers
getting ready to
raid Dee Roberts
apartments.
So much seems to
happen where the
mother (Nicole
Beharie),
grandmother (Alfre
Woodard) and the
ex-boyfriend (Xzibit)
all reside. Between
the usual drug task
force raiding the
small predominantly
African American
community and the
conflicts of life,
the world seems to
stop barely outside
the walls of the
complex. Just enough
to gain neighboring
employment or attend
a church service.
The film really
makes you believe
that there is no
exposure of
substance for these
residents.
What is wonderfully
depicted in the film
is Texas' vibe to be
in its own world. A
state large enough
to fit 15 smaller
states within its
realm, Texas is
still a lifetime of
racial progress
behind most of the
world. Combined with
the local
governments policies
on combating
corruption the film
addresses a serious
series of actions
that constantly take
place in poor
government
subsidized
communities.
Aggressively focused
on the link between
federal funding and
task force raids,
American Violet
exposes the
insatiable greed of
money and power in
government through
the outstanding
performances of
Alfre Woodard.
Woodard captures a
grandmother caught
between a rock and a
hard place as she
tries to provide a
stable temporary
home for her
daughters girls
while patiently
entertaining
ex-boyfriend Darrell
Hughes who uses the
opportunity of Dee's
surprise arrest as a
tool against her.
The extraordinary
performance of
rapper Xzibit as
Darrell Hughes has
raised his acting
status. His
portrayal of a true
to life character
alongside Nicole
Beharie as Dee
Roberts encompasses
the battered
relationship between
young men and women
who become parents
however are no
longer together,
living in a volatile
environment. Their
personal
frustrations
combined with what
is happening around
them including the
children was
exciting, at times
scary and altogether
real.
During the Telluride
Film Festival,
director Tim Disney
alongside actress
Nicole Beharie and
Regina Kelly talk
about the task of
the project and
playing a true-life
character.
The DVD and Blu
Ray features
includes:
Director Tim Disney'
Audio Commentary
Telluride Film
Festival Interview
Scene Selections
Official Theatrical
Trailer
American Violet is
an eye-opening
educational film
that should
encourage audience
members to take a
closer look at the
role of politics in
their lives.
DVD Release: October
13, 2009
Rated PG-13
Color 103 Minutes
English
Subtitles: Spanish,
English for the
hearing impaired
DVD $27.98
Blu ray $35.98
www.americanviolet.com
