Shadrach – Die Heimkehr des Fremden (1998)

Shadrach – Die Heimkehr des Fremden: Directed by Susanna Styron. With Martin Sheen, John Franklin Sawyer, Scott Terra, Ginnie Randall. In 1935, ninety-nine-year-old former slave Shadrach asks to be buried on the soil where he was born to slavery, and that land is owned by the large Dabney family, consisting of Vernon, Trixie, and their seven children, and to bury a black man on that land is a violation of strict Virginia law.

“The acting in this film is first rate. Keitel and McDowell are both superb, as are most of the supporting performers. Unfortunately, the rest of the film doesnu0026#39;t quite live up to their talent. The plot is too small, too contrived, and the actions by Keitel are in contradiction to his characterization. Although it has its moments and is a gentle little film that can help you pass a couple of hours, it wonu0026#39;t stick with you and itu0026#39;s not nearly as heart-warming or touching as the blurb on the box would lead you to believe! More likely, as it ends youu0026#39;ll shrug and say, u0026quot;Oh well, that was okay.u0026quot;u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOf course, I kept thinking about how typically American the film was. Only in this country would a coarse, poverty stricken, beer-guzzlinu0026#39; mountain woman be played by the gorgeous Andie McDowell!”