the serious "Hurry Sundown"

Rating: 10/10 (6 February 2018)

When I heard that "Mudbound" is about a white family and black family that befriend each other in the south in the 1940s, I thought that it sounded similar to Otto Preminger's notorious "Hurry Sundown". Well, this is more like the serious version of the story. The main point that it makes is that the poor black family and poor white family have more in common with each other than they realize. The issue of race remains every prominent, namely how the blacks serving in the armed forces get treated as heroes, but once they return home they get treated as subhuman.
The title can refer to the actual mud on the land where the families live, or to an impediment, or to a feeling of unity between the families. But no matter what happens, the McAllans and Jacksons will have to support each other, although the McAllans will have an advantage thanks to their skin color.
It's a fine piece of work in every way. Mary J. Blige is particularly impressive in the role of the black mother, a woman trying to keep her family together amid all sorts of tragedies (she's received an Oscar nod for the performance, as well as the movie's song). This movie and "Stranger Things" show that Netflix is turning out some good work. I recommend it.