- Language: English
- Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 1
- ASIN: B002C68WNM
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #21,230 in DVD (See Top 100 in DVD)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.8 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shame there wasn't commerical release of this great documentary; the DVD is well worth your time, Dec 26 2009
By Andy Orrock - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Prom Night in Mississippi (DVD)
I had the good fortune of seeing writer/director Paul Saltzman's outstanding documentary 'Prom Night in Mississippi' at the 2009 Dallas AFI Film Festival. Saltzman gave an excellent Q&A after the film. It won the award for Best Documentary in Dallas and sold-out the theater. It doesn't appear that the film actually made it into commercial release (it's not listed in Box Office Mojo), which is a shame. You can make up for this injustice by renting or buying the DVD. It's well worth your time and money.The story is instigated by Morgan Freeman's attempts to end the long-standing practice of separate proms (white, black) in his hometown of Charleston, Mississippi. However, Mr. Freeman plays a relatively minor role in Saltzman's film. Instead, the filmmaker turns his cameras on the students, educators, administrators and parents. It's fascinating to listen to the interviewees discuss the history of the town, its events and how things came to be.
What struck me most about Saltzman's movie is this: by training his camera on a few selected protagonists, he unveils insight and nuanced, complex thinking from unlikely quarters. That he gets it from some of the students is one thing. There are some smart, thoughtful kids at this school. But that it comes from a self-described 'redneck' kitted out in camouflage is something else entirely. I'm referring to parent Glen Sumner - his attempts to articulate parental attitudes and the reasons behind their baked-in biases is brilliant, emotional and brave. During the Q&A in Dallas, when one of the questioners asked Saltzman to carry word back to Mr. Sumner of her admiration of his courage, she got an ovation from the audience. It's the type of film that elicits that type of enthusiasm and emotion.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent film, May 8 2010
By echoes of empires - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Prom Night in Mississippi (DVD)
I came to this movie with great interest, having attending the first integrated prom in a small MS town in 1984. Freeman did some talking and interaction with students and school officials in the opening part of the movie, but it really documented the kids' attitudes, as well as some of the adults. The filmmakers tried to be as honest-candid as possible, and folks were quite open, the kids most of all, though given the intensely touchy nature of blatant racism, much was left unsaid, especially the more strident racist views - which continue to exist today. The movie walks you through Freeman making the proposition to the school council and then the senior class, all the way through to the prom - kids getting ready, lots of interviews with individuals and friends and couples - black and white, kids and adults. There were no shattering insights about why racism continues to exist, but what people did say was very meaningful to hear, touching on how it affects nearly every aspect of their daily lives. I was rapt throughout. And I'm certainly very grateful to Mr. Morgan for taking the steps that he did. With any luck - and hard work - this change in folks' attitudes will stick, and grow. A very good documentary about a serious and neglected subject.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Segregation dies a slow death, Feb 22 2010
By Leif E. Johnson "Educator" - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Prom Night in Mississippi (DVD)
A must see film. Morgan Freeman did a great service to this community by being a catalyst for change. The students of this small Mississippi town made history by showing the courage to resist racism and stand up to the stale tradition of their parents. End the Cycle of hate. I show this film in my U.S. history class and students are amazed to see segregation being practiced today. A great learning experience. HBO films did a great job with this documentary as they always do with their films especially great thought provoking documentaries like this one.
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