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Film Review of
American
Violet by
Kam Williams
Racial Profiling
and Malicious
Prosecution in
Texas
On November 2,
2000, drug
enforcement
agents executed
a sweep of the
black community
in the tiny town
of Hearne,
Texas, arresting
27
African-American
residents,
including a
grieving father
who was taken
into custody
during the
funeral of his
young daughter.
The bench
warrants had
been issued by
the county on
the word of an
informant who
claimed to have
purchased crack
from each of the
accused, despite
the fact that
the ex-con was
the sole
eyewitness, had
a history of
mental illness,
and was himself
facing criminal
charges at the
time.
Nonetheless, The
District
Attorney
aggressively
pursued
convictions in
all of the
cases, generally
succeeding since
most of the
defendants
couldn’t afford
to make bail,
let alone hire a
lawyer. What
generally
transpired was
that after
languishing in
jail for several
months while
awaiting trial,
many succumbed
to the pressure
of their
court-appointed
public defender
to plead guilty
to a lesser
charge in return
for leniency,
rather than face
the possibility
of a lengthy
prison sentence.
In actuality,
these
unfortunate
folks from the
projects had all
simply been
victimized by a
state-sanctioned
scheme to
incarcerate
innocent
African-Americans.
Ultimately, the
ACLU would clear
their names with
the help of one
of the
defendants, an
intrepid woman
willing to risk
further
incurring the
wrath of the
local
authorities by
testifying
against them in
a lawsuit
proving a
color-coded
pattern of
malicious
prosecution.
The intimate
details of her
lengthy ordeal,
set against the
backdrop of that
landmark case,
is the subject
of American
Violet, a
gripping
dramatization of
the events
surrounding the
sad tragedy
which ruined
many a family in
Hearne. Directed
by Tim Disney
(Blessed Art
Thou),
great-nephew of
the legendary
Walt Disney, the
movie stars
newcomer Nicole
Beharie as Dee
Roberts, a 24
year-old
single-mother
with four
daughters whose
life comes apart
at the seams
when she finds
herself suddenly
ensnared in a
dragnet designed
to rid the town
of black people
entirely.
We see that
before being
framed for a
crime she didn’t
commit, Dee had
been getting
along if not
exactly
flourishing,
caring for her
girls while
trying to save
enough money
from waitressing
to study
cosmetology
someday. But
afterwards,
she’s soon
without the
financial
resources or the
emotional
support needed
to handle the
situation.
In
matter-of-fact
fashion, this
brilliant bio-pic
effectively
illustrates the
likely fallout
visited upon a
law-abiding but
unsophisticated
person like Dee
up against an
impersonal legal
justice system
unconcerned with
the truth. For
when she is
falsely accused
of distributing
narcotics and
held on $70,000
bail, the ripple
effect of the
ensuing
nightmare means
that she stands
to lose her
dignity, her
job, her savings
and custody of
her children in
fast order.
Besides the
powerful
performance of
Ms. Beharie, a
Juilliard grad,
American Violet
features a
smorgasbord of
equally-engaging
efforts on the
part of a
talented
supporting cast
topped by such
veteran
thespians as
Alfre Woodard,
Charles S.
Dutton, Will
Patton, Tim
Blake Nelson,
Xzibit and
Michael O’Keefe.
A movie which
earns high marks
simply for being
the first
feature film
with the guts to
tackle the
subject of
racial profiling
in such an
honest fashion,
especially given
the similar
allegations
leveled at the
neighboring town
of Tenaha just
last month.
Fair warning: Do
yourself and
family a favor
and steer clear
of that racist
oasis if you
happen to be
black and
passing through
Texas.
* * * * *
Excellent (4
stars) / Rated
PG-13 for
profanity,
ethnic slurs,
violence, drug
references and
mature themes.
/ Running time:
102 minutes
Studio: Samuel
Goldwyn Films /
To see a trailer
for American
Violet, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv8Jq09qU1Q
To see a news
report about
Tenaha, Texas,
see:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I80hda3IRI
* * * * *
The “American Violet” Interview with Kam Williams
A
recent grad of the acting program at the prestigious Juilliard School,
Nicole Beharie made her screen debut just last fall in The Express,
a bittersweet bio-pic about the abbreviated life of Ernie Davis, the
first African-American recipient of the Heisman Trophy. Now, in just her
second film, the promising young thespian has already handled her first
leading role.
In
American Violet, a riveting drama based on a real-life case of
racial profiling and malicious prosecution in a tiny Texas town, she
plays a single-mother of four falsely accused of dealing drugs. Here,
the emerging ingénue reflects upon her work in the movie which co-stars
Alfre Woodard and Charles S. Dutton.
KW:
Thanks so much for the time.
NB: I’m
grateful that you wanted to speak with me.
KW: The honor is all mine,
after I witnessed what a superb job of acting you did in this film. What
interested you in the role?
NB: This particular script moved me. I had a dream about it, and
when I went in for the call back, I met with the director Tim Disney,
and the writer Bill Haney. When they told me about their investment in
the project and Regina Kelly’s actual story, and how she had cooperated
with the ACLU, I was just moved by them as human beings. I knew right
then and there that I wanted to collaborate with them in some way. I
told them at the second audition that if they didn’t want to cast me as
the lead, I was willing to play another part because I cared that much
about the story. But the audition went well, and things worked out in my
favor.
KW: Did you have a chance to
meet the woman you were portraying, Regina Kelly?
NB: Of course I got to spend a lot of time with her, although we
didn’t get to meet until on set. I also got to spend time with numerous
people from the town in Texas who had gone through the raids, characters
you see in the film on the periphery.
KW: How did she react to
seeing her life story being made?
NB: I think she was probably a little bit nervous initially watching
me be her, wondering who is this girl who doesn’t even look like me.
KW: Was she really a
single-mom with four children?
NB: Yes, she has four daughters the same ages as the girls in the
film, the whole nine yards. Most of the story is pretty accurate.
KW: Does she still live in
Hearne, Texas?
NB: She recently moved, but they did a screening of the film in
Hearne a few weeks ago, right across from the District Attorney’s
office.
KW: Where did you grow up?
NB: I was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, and spent time in South
Carolina and Atlanta. I did a lot of moving around because my father was
in the foreign service. So, I also lived in Nigeria, Panama and
Washington, DC. I was up and down the East Coast, and in a few random
countries. [Laughs]
KW: When did you develop an
interest in acting?
NB: Moving around all the time, you just have to keep yourself
entertained. And I was kind of a bully, even though I’m tiny, 5’ 2”. As
a child, I’d boss other kids around and dress my little brother up, just
putting on shows, singing and dressing up. I recently found a photo of
myself in front of my mother’s closet, trying on her nylons and a
feathered boa. So, I think storytelling was always underneath my skin,
burning to get out.
KW: What type of training did
you get before Juilliard?
NB: When I lived in Orangeburg, South Carolina, I ended up attending
a school for the arts in Greenville. It was a better school and a better
situation. I guess my ticket to get in there was acting. I wasn’t
planning on becoming an actress. I just wanted to go to a better school.
But I fell in love with it, and my senior year I applied to Juilliard,
NYU, Carnegie Mellon and other schools with theater programs. I got in,
took the risk, moved to New York and it kinda worked out.
KW: I guess you did a lot of
Shakespeare at Juilliard.
NB: I loved doing all the plays, including Shakespeare, which is
wonderful for honing your instrument. I wouldn’t say Shakespeare was my
#1 favorite, but you do feel very alive when it’s done well. Being in
front of the camera is nice, too. I think they’re both beautiful types
of performing calling for different levels of energy. I also enjoy
singing in musicals.
 |
KW: Watching American
Violet, I thought I saw another Juilliard graduate in the cast,
Anthony Mackie, playing the informant, but his name wasn’t in the
credits.
NB: Yes, he and Tim Blake Nelson, another Juilliard grad, are both
in the picture.
KW: You had a great supporting
cast, including Alfre Woodard, Charles S. Dutton, Will Patton, Xzibit
and Michael O’Keefe. How was it working alongside so many seasoned pros?
NB: It was daunting. I was constantly reminding myself that they did
cast me. I remember being nervous out of mind during the first reading.
I love acting and I’m always doing readings, but this time, I knew the
stakes were high. And after working with them, I took away so much from
the experience because everyone was so generous with me. Michael reached
out to me. Will took me to see some independent films. And Alfre was an
absolute jewel. |
KW: Well, I think the camera
likes you, you have a natural chemistry and powerful presence. I noticed
you the first time you came on screen in The Express. I sort of
thought, hey, who is that?
NB: Thank you. I skipped my graduation at Juilliard to do that film.
KW: Your debut was the scene
when you walked into the party with a girlfriend and the two of you were
introduced to Ernie Davis.
NB: Wow! You’ve got quite a memory.
KW: Is there any question no
one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?
NB: That’s an awesome question. What do I want you to ask me? Hmm…
I’ll have to think about that.
KW: The Tasha Smith question:
Are you ever afraid?
NB: Yes, I think this whole process has you constantly facing your
fears and being courageous. But it’s also exciting.
KW: The Columbus Short
question: Are you happy?
NB: Yeah, I’m really enjoying my time, and my family is really
excited for me. I was raised by a single-mother, and my sister was a
single-mom, too, so I think that’s one of the things that help me
understand my role in American Violet. And having them see the
fruits of my labors is really exciting. I just feel really blessed and
humbled, even that you want to talk with me right now.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson
question: What was the last book you read?
NB: Right now, I’m reading a spiritual essay by Ralph Wood Emerson,
"Self Reliance," and Strange Pilgrims, a collection of short
stories by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
KW: The music maven Heather
Covington question: What music are you listening to?
NB: I’m always listening to Nina Simone.
KW: One of her songs is in the
movie at the end.
NB: Yes, and I didn’t know that when I first saw it. That thrilled
me. That made me so happy. It was so perfect. Besides Nina Simone, I
have some Common going on, some Joni Mitchell, and Beyoncé
when I’m working out.
KW: What has been the biggest
obstacle you have had to overcome?
NB:
Underestimation.
KW:
The Rudy Lewis question: Who’s at the top of your hero list?
NB: My mom,
Colleen.
KW:
Teri Emerson would like to know when was the last time you had a good
belly laugh?
NB: After my grandmother had a heart attack and all my relatives
came back home. We did everything in our power to lift her spirits, and
it did something for me too. My sister absolutely cracks me up. I was
rolling on the floor.
KW: How is your grandmother
doing now?
NB: Much better, thanks.
KW: The Laz Alonso question:
Is there anything your fans can do to help you?
NB: By just giving me a chance. I’m new. I don’t know that I have a
fan base yet.
KW: How do you want to be
remembered?
NB: As an ever-changing person, like the weather and the seasons. I
want to have room to grow and morph and learn as I’m figuring it all
out.
KW: Have you thought about a
question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?
NB: Yes, It’s sort of abstract, but I would like to get creative
feedback at
www.MySpace.com/NicoleBeharie about the film in the form of words,
music or any other artistic expression from people who have seen it.
KW:
Well, Nicole, thanks again and best of luck in the future.
NB:Thank you.
To see a trailer for
American Violet, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv8Jq09qU1Q
* * * *
*
|
Go,
Tell Michelle
African American Women Write to the New First Lady
Edited
Barbara A. Seals Nevergold and Peggy Brooks-Bertram |
 |
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posted 12 April
2009 |
