A Lesson Before Dying
A young man's destiny becomes a teacher's journey.
Based on the New York Times No. 1 best-selling novel and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, Don Cheadle and Cicely Tyson star in A Lesson Before Dying.
Grant Wiggins (Don Cheadle) has become resigned to racial injustice in the south. Returning to his home town with a college degree, he continues to teach in the same one-room school of his youth. Struggling to make a difference in an oppressive time and place, Grant is called upon by two local women, Tante Lou and Miss Emma, to visit the town prison. There, Jefferson, a simple young man, has been convicted of a murder he did not commit and sentenced to die like an animal. Jefferson is full of rage and resentment, and the women are convinced that somehow he must be taught to die not like an animal, but like a man. It falls upon the teacher to enrich a life he cannot save and, in so doing, somehow redeem his own, by teaching one young man...
A Lesson Before Dying
Member Reviews
on the fence - huma
this film is based on an excellent novel. one of the original oprah book club picks, back when her book club was original and interesting. on screen it's a slow moving drama...really, really slow moving. that said, some of the performances are fantastic: both mekhi and cicely in particular are very convincing in their roles. don cheadle's no slouch either. worth viewing on a quiet afternoon...just don't pop it in if you're feeling drowsy because you're sure to doze off a few minutes in.
Member Reviews
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on the fence - huma
this film is based on an excellent novel. one of the original oprah book club picks, back when her book club was original and interesting. on screen it's a slow moving drama...really, really slow moving. that said, some of the performances are fantastic: both ...