Customer Reviews

Prom Night in Mississippi

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I had the good fortune of seeing writer/director Paul Saltzman's outstanding documentary 'Prom Night in Mississippi' at the 2009 Dallas AFI Film Festival. Saltzman gave an excellent Q&A after the film. It won the award for Best Documentary in Dallas and sold-out the theater. It doesn't appear that the film actually made it into commercial release (it's not listed in Box Office Mojo), which is a shame. You can make up for this injustice by renting or buying the DVD. It's well worth your time and money.

The story is instigated by Morgan Freeman's attempts to end the long-standing practice of separate proms (white, black) in his hometown of Charleston, Mississippi. However, Mr. Freeman plays a relatively minor role in Saltzman's film. Instead, the filmmaker turns his cameras on the students, educators, administrators and parents. It's fascinating to listen to the interviewees discuss the history of the town, its events and how things came to be.

What struck me most about Saltzman's movie is this: by training his camera on a few selected protagonists, he unveils insight and nuanced, complex thinking from unlikely quarters. That he gets it from some of the students is one thing. There are some smart, thoughtful kids at this school. But that it comes from a self-described 'redneck' kitted out in camouflage is something else entirely. I'm referring to parent Glen Sumner - his attempts to articulate parental attitudes and the reasons behind their baked-in biases is brilliant, emotional and brave. During the Q&A in Dallas, when one of the questioners asked Saltzman to carry word back to Mr. Sumner of her admiration of his courage, she got an ovation from the audience. It's the type of film that elicits that type of enthusiasm and emotion.

I came to this movie with great interest, having attending the first integrated prom in a small MS town in 1984. Freeman did some talking and interaction with students and school officials in the opening part of the movie, but it really documented the kids' attitudes, as well as some of the adults. The filmmakers tried to be as honest-candid as possible, and folks were quite open, the kids most of all, though given the intensely touchy nature of blatant racism, much was left unsaid, especially the more strident racist views - which continue to exist today. The movie walks you through Freeman making the proposition to the school council and then the senior class, all the way through to the prom - kids getting ready, lots of interviews with individuals and friends and couples - black and white, kids and adults. There were no shattering insights about why racism continues to exist, but what people did say was very meaningful to hear, touching on how it affects nearly every aspect of their daily lives. I was rapt throughout. And I'm certainly very grateful to Mr. Morgan for taking the steps that he did. With any luck - and hard work - this change in folks' attitudes will stick, and grow. A very good documentary about a serious and neglected subject.

A must see film. Morgan Freeman did a great service to this community by being a catalyst for change. The students of this small Mississippi town made history by showing the courage to resist racism and stand up to the stale tradition of their parents. End the Cycle of hate. I show this film in my U.S. history class and students are amazed to see segregation being practiced today. A great learning experience. HBO films did a great job with this documentary as they always do with their films especially great thought provoking documentaries like this one.

The main lessons from this inspiring film: 1) If it were up to the kids they would have abandoned the narrow cage of racism long ago. 2) Parents, don't keep our youth in a cage; open the doors and let them fly. So what if blacks and whites wish to marry each other. Their "mixed" offspring would face heavy challenges, true; they might end up in the White House. Morgan Freeman is a hero in inspiring a school to transform not only Charleston but other towns as well. Just imagine what more could be done if hundreds, thousands of other prominent people like him went throughout the country to do similar deeds of courage and transformation.

I grew up in Florida in a segregated school system in the 60's. We had riots when the first black person attended school. It is hard to believe that it could even be an issue. This documentary shows how a school wanted to combine black/white dance from both schools. This was in 1970. We face the same problem today with Hispanics, Muslims, gays...the list goes on and on. Watching this show helps to show people how how ridiculous it is when we don't tear down these wall. Morgan Freeman is involved in trying to get the prom dance integrated. Worth watching/learning.

Something about the film didn't really spark for me. I commended the students for wanting to have an "integrated" prom, but the idea of having a "mixed" prom in 2008 just made me roll my eyes halfway across the world. I think the biggest problem with the film to me was that it even had to be made. I watched it with my 88-year-old grandfather who I thought was going to make me feel appreciative about it, but we spent so much time shaking our head.

Cons: 1) My head was swimming every time Jessica said the n-word so matter-of-fact. I understand that she was being asked questions, but it was just flying out of her mouth way too comfortably and bothering me. 2) There was some filler material that really didn't add to the film, like the kids doing the "Cha Cha" slide and some rap/dance routine outside and then at probm. I honestly wanted to see heavier material during those parts. I'm guessing the idea was to show kids being kids, but it probably would've worked better for me if kids from other groups were standing outside with them. To me, it just looked like a bunch of kids standing outside. The rap was okay. 3) The parents from the other side wouldn't be videotaped. I think that was my biggest problem with the film. They didn't want to be labeled as "racist," but since the biggest problem was them and they wouldn't go on camera (not even behind that funny screen that that one kid did, who absolutely didn't serve much of a purpose since he wouldn't say it publicly in front of everyone) then a big gap of the film was missing for me.

Pros: I'm relieved that the prom actually happened without any drama. Although it was unfortunate that there was still a "white prom" even though there was a "mixed" prom, I was content to find out about the girl who said the white students seemed to be talking to the black students more often. In a school that was primarily black, I thought it was odd to NOT speak to the black students much anyway. Wasn't the percentage 70 to 30? It takes great effort to ignore THAT much of a school.

My grandfather and I pointed out whose outfits we liked the best (the brown-skinned girl with the orange/yellow dress was too cute and I liked Jessica's dress quite a bit outside of me cringing when she kept throwing out the n-word). Although I was interested in the interracial couple who was brave enough to go to the dance together, I was actually more interested in what the daughter's father had to say. Although I didn't agree with a word of what he was saying, it was the one time when we actually got to hear from someone who pretty much had the strange mindset of blacks being separate from whites. I just wanted to hear from both sides, and the film was one-sided.

Oh, keep in mind the smarter side got plenty of camera time, but my only problem with the film is that I don't believe anybody really learned anything from it. I got the impression that the white students who went to the white prom already DID NOT have a problem with black people. I think it's pitiful that Morgan Freeman had to get involved when there were plenty of capable grown-ups who should've done it long before he even mentioned it. Like, why did he have to hold the school faculty's hand to do something they clearly knew was wrong to begin with?

The movie was cool though. I respect them for making history, although I feel like this is something that should've happened in the '60s or '70s, not 2008. Man, that's a shame.

Prom Night in Mississippi follows senior high school students as they embark on a historic journey - the first racially integrated prom in the school's history. This isn't the retelling of an old story though, the prom is in 2008.

In 1997, the actor Morgan Freeman offered to pay for the first integrated prom. The school declined his offer. In 2008, when he offered again, the school and students accepted. The film follows students as they react to this wonderful opportunity. Their community is still influenced heavily by racism. Many of the student's parents (and some students) are racist and that has affected relationships among the students in school. Some parents are angry about the integrated prom and they hold a white-only prom for their students. Ultimately, the integrated prom goes on. Students of all colors come together and have a wonderful time.

This is an inspiring film. It forces me to ask myself, what can I do to make the change I hope to see in the world? The film ends with a boy who has chosen to keep his face hidden, he says, "they may be mad, but they'll be happy longer." My review doesn't do the film justice - just SEE IT!

TRUE STORY ABOUT HOW MORGAN FREEMAN HIMSELF, OFFERING THE SCHOOL HE GRADUATED FROM, THAT HE WOULD PAY FOR THE PROM IF THEY ALLOWED BOTH BLACK AND WHITE STUDENTS TO ATTEND THE SAME PROM

I had lived in Mississippi, in a small town for 4 years. I had heard about the segregation when I was in school up in NJ and NY state. (When I moved there, my then-husband's family referred to me as a "Damn Yankee Carpetbagger".)

This movie touches on a subject that most people don't realize is still prevalent in Mississippi and other southern states. The segregation issue is handled very tastefully. The horrid "N" word is not used at all. The students were very open and honest in their opinions.

I watched this movie as a Netflix recommendation. I would recommend this movie for all high school educators to utilize as a tool to show how segregation was and still is, and as a cultural awareness lesson.

I have always admired Mr. Freeman's work, and this is one of his finest films yet...

The characters are very real and relatable. Several students were moved to tears or outrage by the things they witnessed. I incorporated it into high school classes before our winter formal and prom, since I have different students both semesters. I have never recieved a complaint, no one put their head down, no one was bored. All of the students who watched it shared real emotion after viewing.