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Soul Food (film) Starring Vanessa Williams,and many more Rated R, 1997 Producers: Tracey E. Edmonds, Robert Teitel 20th Century Fox For over 40 years, members of the Joseph family have gathered at Big Mama Joe's house to feast on soul food and familial love. Every Sunday, there was a mouth-watering array of fried chicken, catfish, cornbread, collards, potato salad, mac and cheese, biscuits, gravy, sweet potatoes and pie all lovingly prepared by Mama Joe and her three daughters, Teri, Maxine and Bird. These sisters could not be more different. Teri is an ambitious lawyer married to attorney/aspiring recording artist Miles. Bird is the baby sister who at the beginning of the film marries Lem Davis, an ex-con struggling to stay straight. Maxine is a pregnant housewife happily married to hard-working Kenny. Their two children are little Kelly and 10-year-old Ahmad, the story's narrator. He and Mama Joe share a special bond and he knows that she is the glue that keeps the family together. For over 40 years, members of the Joseph family have gathered at Big Mama Joe's house to feast on soul food and familial love. Every Sunday, there was a mouth-watering array of fried chicken, catfish, cornbread, collards, potato salad, mac and cheese, biscuits, gravy, sweet potatoes and pie all lovingly prepared by Mama Joe (Irma P. Hall) and her three daughters, Teri, Maxine and Bird. These sisters could not be more different. Teri (Vanessa L. Williams) is an ambitious lawyer married to attorney/aspiring recording artist Miles (Michael Beach). As the wealthy ones in the otherwise middle-class clan, they are constantly helping out other family members, something that Teri resents, but always does. Bird (Nia Long) is the baby sister who at the beginning of the film marries Lem Davis (Mekhi Phifer), an ex-con struggling to stay straight. Bird has just opened a beauty shop thanks to a loan from Teri.Maxine (Viveca A. Fox) is a pregnant housewife happily married to hard-working Kenny (Jeffrey D. Sams). Their two children are cute little Kelly and 10-year-old Ahmad (Brandon Hammond), the story's narrator. He and Mama Joe share a special bond and he knows that she is the glue that keeps the family together. When Mama Joe falls ill, the glue weakens, old wounds between the sisters open, and familial chaos ensues, leaving only Ahmad to somehow obey his grandmother's wishes and reunite the family. Based on incidents from the life of screenwriter/director George Tillman, Soul Food is an upbeat comedy-drama, that while a little long, uneven in the middle and somewhat contrived in its attempts to manipulate the heartstrings, presents an African American family in a positive light. Its message could apply to any family: unity is strength. -- Sandra Brennan (All-Media Guide) |
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