Down in the Delta (1998)
Average Rating: 6.8/10
Reviews Counted: 23
Fresh: 18 | Rotten: 5
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 7.4/10
Critic Reviews: 7
Fresh: 6 | Rotten: 1
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 1,365
My Rating
Movie Info
Poet Maya Angelou made her feature directorial debut with this African-American family drama, shown theatrically but originally produced for the Showtime cable network. Unemployed single mother Loretta (Alfre Woodward) lives with her mother, Rosa Lynn (Mary Alice), in a Chicago apartment. Drugs and alcohol lead Loretta to neglect her autistic daughter, Tracy (Kulani Hassen). Her teen son Thomas (Mpho Koaho) brings in money by photographing tourists. Rosa Lynn pawns a family heirloom in order to
Dec 25, 1998 Wide
Jul 20, 1999
Miramax
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Cast
-
Alfre Woodard
Loretta -
Al Freeman Jr.
Earl -
Mary Alice
Rosa Lynn -
Esther Rolle
Annie -
Loretta Devine
Zenia -
Wesley Snipes
Will -
Mpho Koaho
Thomas -
Kulani Hassen
Tracy -
Anne-Marie Johnson
Monica -
Justin Lord
Dr. Rainey
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All Critics (40) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (5)
Maya Angelou's stunning feature directorial debut.
Not particularly groundbreaking, and neither is its message, but it's all done with sensitivity and intelligence by Angelou.
I was not thrilled about having to see it. But, sitting there in the dark, I became tremendously moved by the movie, and I have not forgotten its power.
Employs too many redundant, stagy flashbacks to tell the story of Loretta's ancestors.
A powerful performance from Alfre Woodard captured by Angelou's quiet, poetic direction.
Shows that every family has a potential for resiliency and growth, no matter what the problems.
Audience Reviews for Down in the Delta
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