25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Realistic, atmospheric, and great film. It really hits home., May 16, 2003
Paul, an only child, loves visiting the Dabney family. The Dabneys have seven children, and they're a much poorer family. During Paul's tenth summer, set in the 1930s, a family member he never even met passes away, and he goes to stay with the Dabneys while his parents go off to the funeral. That's when he meets Shadrach, a 99-year-old black man that was born a slave and was sold off to Alabama, being separated from his family in Virginia. He's been gone all these years. Sensing death in his old bones, he travels back to his native Virginia, wanting to be put to rest where he belongs. Shadrach happens to be a Dabney, just like the white family he came to. Will this family be nice enough to do for him what he wants to be done? What will happen along the way?
"Shadrach" is a heartwarming and extremely realistic film. Being raised in Alabama, I can relate to the underlying plot of the film a lot. One thing that's really shocking is that Paul looks almost just like my little brother, making me kind of watch the movie as if it was through my younger sibling's eyes. Both of those facts along with the great acting by everybody, especially Harvey Keitel, made "Shadrach" really hit home for me in a way. Not to mention that it reminds me of my own childhood, when I was looked at as being middle to upper class, but almost all of my friends were less fortunate, and I never thought a thing about it.
It's a shame that "Shadrach" seems to be relatively unknown. It's just a simple drama movie with elements of a coming of age film, but it's a real good one that will hit home for certain people, maybe in more than one way. All I did was rent it after hearing that it's "a good southern movie." I'm glad I did, because now I look to purchase it one day in the future. As long as the cussing nearly every other word doesn't bother you (it shouldn't; that's just the film trying to be realistic of the times), you'll love "Shadrach".
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful movie, beautiful message, April 17, 1999
By A Customer
I loved this movie. Yes, there is a lot of foul language, but it is not gratuitous at all. The language is a reflection of the family's life and the harshness and difficulty of the Depression. The message of compassion and obligation is the focus of this movie. The cinemaphotography is spectacular. The acting is superb. The kids in the movie are unspoiled, loved, thoughtful and compassionate, a refreshing change from many movies today. Andie McDowell discards her super-model role, and plays a beautiful (inside and out) poor, white trash mother full of beer and heart. Harvey Keitel is an honorable boot-legger with a level of decency that makes him a lovable man. This movie ranks right up there with To Kill a Mockingbird. I'm buying it today!
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A small but charming pleasure, January 12, 2006
There are so many good reviews of this film written already that I need add very little.
The acting is superb, the atmosphere of the South excellently portrayed and the comedy and underlying drama beautifully unfolds.
It brought some sun to a cold Welsh winter evening, for which I thank Harvey Keitel, Andie MacDowell and the remainder of the excellent cast. The direction is excellent and in total sympathy with the original short story written byWilliam Styron.
This is an unpretentious film that makes you feel you have spent your time well when it comes to an end. Highly recommended. I am sure you will enjoy it.
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