pretty but not too impressive

Rating: 5/10 (10 February 2006)

In DVD viewing, I found this film very much failed to make good on its hype. It is well made and certainly well acted, but not nearly as inspired as the filmmaker seems to think that it is. Though the story is focused on racial issues, the dramatic events of the film are really driven mostly by a series of contrived coincidences, leading to carefully orchestrated moments of tragedy, all of which lack the ring of truth. If you have never considered that race might be a complicated personal issue, than this film might give you something to think about. Otherwise, I would rate it as a well done writing excercise, and not much more.