Down in the Delta

Down in the Delta is a 1998 American-Canadian drama film, directed by Maya Angelou and starring Alfre Woodard, Al Freeman, Jr., Esther Rolle (in her final film appearance before her death), Loretta Devine, and Wesley Snipes.
Plot
Rosa Lynn Sinclair, an elderly woman, lives in a Chicago housing project with her daughter Loretta and her two grandchildren, four-year-old Tracy (who is autistic) and thirteen year-old Thomas. Disappointed in Loretta's life choices and afraid of the troubled circumstances surrounding her grandson Thomas, Rosa Lynn decides to send her daughter and grandchildren to visit with her brother-in-law in Mississippi for the summer.
Loretta, a drug addict, declines to go, especially since her uncle Earl lives in the dry and rural part of the Mississippi Delta, and already juggles his business and a wife, Annie, who has Alzheimer's disease and is cared for by a housekeeper.
Before they depart, Rosa Lynn pawns a silver candelabra, a family heirloom they refer to as "Nathan," the name of their slave ancestor. Exiting the pawn shop, Rosa Lynn throws the pawn ticket into a streetside trashcan, hoping that her daughter will value the family relic enough to pick it up and redeem it before the candelabra becomes the property of the pawn shop. Loretta picks the ticket up out of the trashcan, hoping to redeem Nathan later.
Earl, a wise man of few words, welcomes the trio to his home in rural Mississippi. Earl gives Loretta a job in his restaurant, called Just Chicken, where she initially has trouble handling the work and the demands of a daily schedule. Eventually, the visiting family begin to find strength in their rural roots, and start to rebuild their lives.
Thomas teaches Loretta enough basic arithmetic for her to be able to waitress, and thus make extra money in tips. Loretta becomes friendly with a nice local customer named Carl (Nigel Shawn Williams). Eventually, her daughter Tracy says her first words.
A few troubles ensue, one involving Earl teaching Thomas about guns, and the other when Annie falls and breaks her hip. By the end of the summer, the initially sullen Loretta decides to stay on and make her life in the Delta. In the final scene, Earl reveals that Loretta's great-great-grandfather, a slave named Nathan, was sold away from his wife and children for the sterling silver candelabra. During the Civil War, Nathan's son Jesse stole the candelabra, which has since been passed down through generations of their family, along with Nathan's story.
Cast
Alfre Woodard as Loretta Sinclair
Al Freeman Jr. as Earl Sinclair
Esther Rolle as Annie Sinclair
Mary Alice as Rosa Lynn Sinclair
Loretta Devine as Zenia
Wesley Snipes as Will Sinclair
Anne-Marie Johnson as Monica Sinclair
Mpho Koaho as Thomas Sinclair
Justin Lord as Dr. Rainey
Kulani Hassen as Tracy Sinclair
Sandra Caldwell as Volunteer
Colleen Williams as Tourist Woman
Richard Blackburn as Tourist Man
Philip Akin as Manager
Mary Fallick as Drug Addict
Sandi Ross as Pawnbroker
Barbara Barnes-Hopkins as Prim Woman
Richard Yearwood as Marco
Troy Seivwright-Adams as Collin
Kevin Duhaney as Justin
Music
The original soundtrack was released by Virgin Records.
"Believe in Love" - Sunday (featuring Whitney Houston)
"God's Stepchild" - Janet Jackson (credited as Janet)
"Heaven Must Be Like This" - D'Angelo
"If Ever" - Stevie Wonder
"Where Would I Be" - The Leverts (Eddie, Gerald, and Sean)
"I'm Only Human" - Luther Vandross (featuring Cassandra Wilson and Bob James)
"Just A Little Luv" - Shawn Stockman
"We Belong Together" - Tony Thompson And Antoinette
"Don't Talk 2 Strangers" - Chaka Khan
"Let It Go" - Jazzyfatnastees featuring The Roots
"My Soul Don't Dream" - Meshell N'degeocello & Keb' Mo'
"Uh Uh Ooh Ooh Look Out Here It Comes" - Ashford & Simpson
"Don't Let Nuthin' Keep You Down" - Sounds of Blackness
"Family (Score)" - Stanley Clarke
"The Rain" - Tracie Spencer
"Patchwork Quilt" - Sweet Honey in the Rock
Reception
Box office
The film was successful on limited release, grossing $2,497,557 on its first week of release.
Critical response
On review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, Down in the Delta has an approval rating of 76% based on 72 critics' reviews. The consensus states: "Although director Maya Angelou is done few favors by a screenplay drawn in broad strokes, Down in the Delta offers some fine performances and a heartfelt message."
Alfre Woodard's work drew praise from San Francisco Chronicle reviewer Peter Stack, who lauded her for "a beautifully layered performance...Woodard is magical as a single mother haunted by drugs, alcohol and an inadequate education. She almost single-handedly shores up this somewhat simplistic movie...[h]er instincts for drama and humor provide a welcome dose of human reality, saving a script that veers toward the sentimental."
In Variety, Joe Leydon wrote, "Throughout Down in the Delta, Angelou and Goble emphasize simple truths and intelligent optimism", and that the film "places great stock in the strength of family ties and the soul-enhancing value of returning to roots" without crossing into melodrama.
Awards and nominations
Acapulco Black Film Festival
Best Film (nominated)
Best Director - Maya Angelou (nominated)
Best Actress - Alfre Woodard (nominated)
Best Soundtrack (nominated)
Chicago International Film Festival
Audience Choice for Best Feature - Maya Angelou (winner)
Independent Spirit Awards
Best Female Lead - Alfre Woodard (nominated)
NAACP Image Awards
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture - Alfre Woodard (nominated)
Outstanding Motion Picture (nominated)
Prism Awards
Theatrical Feature Film (winner)
Young Artist Awards
Best Performance in a Feature Film - Young Actress Age Ten or Under - Kulani Hassen (nominated)
References
External links
1998 films
1998 drama films
1998 independent films
African-American drama films
Canadian drama films
English-language Canadian films
Films produced by Wesley Snipes
Films scored by Stanley Clarke
Films set in Chicago
Films set in Mississippi
Films shot in Toronto
Films directed by Maya Angelou
1998 directorial debut films
1990s English-language films
1990s American films
1990s Canadian films
Films about disability
English-language drama films